Silent Kohinata: Volume 1 Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Sharing Cake and Cats

[Illustration: m005.jpg]

 

 

　That Friday, I felt like I'd gotten a little closer to Kohinata and Saejima.

　After spending Saturday and Sunday hard at work at the cafe, Monday rolled around again.

　That eventful Friday had ended with one last surprise: as I was leaving, Kohinata's older sister, Shizuka-san, asked for my contact information.

　But although we'd exchanged contact information, neither of us had messaged the other. Other than one new name in my contacts, nothing had changed.

　She probably just wanted a way to reach me in case something happened.

　Still, I had mixed feelings about ending up with Shizuka-san's contact information before Kohinata's. Did Kohinata even know about it? Somehow, it felt awkward to ask.

"Heeh…… so you do want her contact information, Tomoki."

　Before morning homeroom, I finished telling Keiichi what had happened on Friday, and somehow that was the conclusion he reached. At least he had enough sense not to say Kohinata's name out loud in the classroom.

　It wasn't as though I didn't want Kohinata's phone number, email address, or chat ID. I just had no idea what I'd do with them if I got them. Message her tonight's dinner menu? Who exactly would benefit from that?

"How did you come to that conclusion?"

"Because having only her older sister's isn't enough for you, right? If you two are close enough for her to let you into her house, exchanging contact information seems pretty normal."

　For the record, I hadn't told Keiichi the details of the Kohinata family's situation, or about the embarrassing thing I'd said.

　The former wasn't something I had any right to share without permission, and the latter would obviously get me teased.

　What was I thinking, saying I wanted to be friends with Asuka-san because I wanted to……? I spent a good while writhing around on my bed after I got home. I hadn't said anything wrong, but let's watch what comes out of our mouth next time, Sugino Tomoki-kun.

"Kohinata wasn't the one who invited me inside. Anyway, I'm not dissatisfied. It just feels…… weird, I guess."

　It was true that I wanted to be closer to Kohinata.

　But after thinking about it all night, I'd concluded that what I felt was probably closer to a protective instinct.

　Sure, Kohinata was cute, soothing to watch, and relaxing to talk to.

　But it wasn't romantic. It had to be something closer to how someone might feel about a daughter or little sister. Of course, I had neither, and I barely understood romance either, so this was all guesswork.

　Either way, I still wanted to be friends with Kohinata. I just didn't want to date her. Probably.

"Hmm. Well, I guess that's fine for now──oh, speak of the devil."

　Keiichi jerked his chin toward the front of the classroom. I followed his gaze and saw Kohinata trotting in with her usual blank expression while our classmates greeted her.

　You're cute again today.

　You didn't fall over or anything, did you?

　You did your homework properly, right?

　Voices like that came from every direction, all of them doing their best to pamper Kohinata.

　I understood exactly how they felt──Kohinata was adorable, after all.

　But how many of us, Keiichi and me included, actually understood her?

　That she'd once been clingy. That she'd lost her father and was trying to stand on her own two feet. Why she refused to rely on the people around her.

　Even Shizuka-san had sounded uncertain about it, so Saejima, who had known her for years, was probably the only real possibility.

　Not that I could criticize anyone. I hadn't understood her either, and I hadn't even tried.

　Watching Kohinata from behind as she nodded at the boys and girls gathered around her, I murmured, "Even with that tiny body, she's doing her best too, huh."

　If I could, I wanted to become more than someone who simply spoiled her. I wanted to be someone she could want to lean on──something like a father. That thought crossed my mind as I watched her nod.

 

 

 

 

"So, Tomoki! Let's eat in the courtyard!"

"You really do spring things on me out of nowhere…… Well, I don't care where we eat."

"Then let's go! This is the best time of year for it. The cafeteria's always packed, but the courtyard still isn't too crowded."

　At lunch, just as I was reaching into my bag for my homemade onigiri, Keiichi suddenly made the suggestion. He had his usual sweet bread.

　The courtyard was a popular spot during lunch break, and it was normally crowded except during the dead of winter or midsummer.

　There still weren't many first-years using it this early in the year. If I remembered right, our year hadn't really started eating in the courtyard until after Golden Week. Before that, the first-years tended to defer to the upperclassmen, so it should still be fairly open.

　I followed Keiichi down the stairs and toward the courtyard without hesitation, then spotted a familiar face ahead.

"Ah, it's Saejima."

　Near the shade of the tree where Kohinata had once watched the line of ants, Saejima was flapping open a picnic sheet. Kohinata was already patting at the sheet on the grass, smoothing out the wrinkles.

　Come to think of it, girls who ate in the courtyard usually brought picnic sheets.

　The guys normally just sat straight on the grass and used their school bags as makeshift tables.

　As we walked up to Saejima, Keiichi called, "Sorry to keep you waiting~ Whoa, that's a big sheet." Wait. "Sorry to keep you waiting"?

"Yoohoo, Sugino-kun! Karakusa-kun! I kept a two-person sheet at school, but four people would be cramped, so Asuka and I went out and bought a bigger one this weekend!"

"Huh? You actually bought one just for this? Want us to chip in?"

"No, no~! The old one was getting pretty worn out anyway, so I was already planning to replace it. And if we fold this one in half, we can still use it for two people like before!"

　Saejima chatted with Keiichi with a bashful little smile.

　So this was that again. Another plan everyone had made while leaving me completely out of it.

　At this point, hadn't avoiding Kohinata and Saejima's names in the classroom become meaningless? If the four of us ate together in the courtyard, anyone could see us.

　I wasn't desperate to hide it, but now that things had come this far, I'd better be ready for at least a little jealousy. Good grief…… I just hoped nobody called me out again.

"We already played games together at my place. I'm not going to refuse to eat lunch together now. Just stop springing surprise events on me."

"Nah, I just wanted to see Tomoki freak ou──ow, ow, ow! Stop grinding your knuckles into my temples!"

　As I administered some discipline to Keiichi in the form of corporal punishment, someone tugged at the hem of my uniform from behind. I knew who it was without even turning around.

　Sure enough, when I looked back, I found a familiar little crown of hair.

　I released Keiichi's head──Guh──and turned toward Kohinata.

　I gave Kohinata a casual, "Yo," as she looked up at me from beneath her lashes.

　Shizuka-san had said Kohinata had been changing for the better.

　If that was true, I should probably just be happy she'd come over and tapped me on the waist like a greeting.

 

 

　The four of us settled into one corner of the courtyard, busy with second- and third-years, and unpacked the lunches we'd brought.

　Only a few white clouds dotted the sky. You could safely call it clear.

　The sunlight was warm, and a pleasant breeze drifted through the courtyard from the open windows and school entrances. It felt perfect now, though another rise in temperature would probably have us sweating. Keiichi had been right: this really was the ideal season for it.

　I had onigiri, Keiichi had sweet bread, and Kohinata and Saejima had homemade bentos. The four of us each took a corner of the picnic sheet Saejima had brought.

　With a salmon-flake onigiri in one hand, I looked around and said, "Let's stop worrying about everyone staring. It'll ruin the food."

"You say that while obviously worrying about it. Relax, relax. Kohinata might be popular, but I doubt you need to be that paranoid, Tomoki. This isn't a drama. Nobody's going to scream, How dare you get close to Kohinata!"

"Go tell that to those Class E girls," I replied with a sigh, instantly deflating Keiichi's breezy optimism.

　He gave a hollow laugh and looked away. While I stared at him flatly, Saejima tried to change the subject.

"Actually, I might be in more danger than either of you. I never really thought about it, but Karakusa-kun is an active model, right? Asuka's popularity might stop at the school gates, but Karakusa-kun's doesn't."

　Now that she mentioned it, she had a point.

　I didn't pry into Keiichi's love life, and he never volunteered much either. Still, he'd told me himself that he'd turned down a lot of confessions. I'd even asked if models had some idol-style dating ban, but apparently there was nothing like that.

　He acted like a goof, but anyone could see he was popular. Saejima's concern was perfectly reasonable.

"Ah…… maybe that's why I'm getting fewer nasty looks than I expected. Keiichi and Kohinata are probably equally famous around here, so maybe everyone just accepts them being together. In that case, Saejima probably doesn't need to worry either."

　Kohinata and Keiichi were probably safe, then.

　And Saejima might not realize it herself, but she was cheerful, outgoing, and pretty enough that nobody would question her being with those two.

　But what about me? A plain guy with ugly rumors following him around. Was I really supposed to be sitting here with them? Wasn't I painfully out of place?

　Just as I was sinking into despair over my own low stats again, Keiichi swallowed the mouthful of sweet bread he'd been chewing and spoke with a surprisingly serious expression.

"Honestly, who cares what anyone else says or thinks? If the four of us are fine with it, that's enough. I don't want to be friends with people who take cheap shots just because they're jealous anyway."

　Having cut the matter off cleanly, Keiichi took another bite of his bread. Should I tell him about the cream on the corner of his mouth? He'd just said something cool, so maybe I'd wait until after school.

　Still…… he really had gotten stronger. What happened to the crybaby Keiichi from elementary school, the kid who used to hide behind my back all the time? What had changed him this much?

"──Yeah, you're right. Still, Kohinata, Saejima, if anyone gives you trouble, tell me. You're hanging around a guy with a bad reputation. Some idiot might start saying nonsense."

　Compared with Keiichi, the reality I had just stated about myself was depressing. I wanted to cry.

　My voice came out embarrassingly pathetic, and in response──

"Ahaha, that's what you don't need to worry about. At least everyone in my class is fine! I've been casually spreading the word that all those rumors about Tomoki-kun were fake~."

"Same with Class C. I hear Takada correcting people here and there, and girls come ask me about it too."

　Saejima and Keiichi answered almost back-to-back.

　I'd seen what was happening in Class C myself, so that part was one thing…… but Saejima had been doing that in her own class? I had no idea.

"You've been going that far for me, Saejima…… Thanks."

"No problem~! The way it started wasn't great, but I'm glad I got to know you and Karakusa-kun! You're both fun! And that baby-making spree the other day was amazing!"

"Hey! Don't dig that back up! I wasn't the only one who took psychic damage from it!"

　I looked over at Kohinata, who had been about to pop a bright-red octopus wiener into her tiny mouth. Her little round mouth slowly closed, and she returned the wiener to her bento.

　She set her chopsticks down, reached toward me, and tap──smacked my knee.

"Huh!? Why am I the bad guy now!? That's completely unfair!"

　The moment I protested, Kohinata turned away from me with a little hmph.

　I couldn't tell whether she was angry or hiding her embarrassment, but I could say one thing for certain: she was cute.

 

 

　After everyone finished eating, we stayed on the picnic sheet for the rest of lunch. That was when the incident happened.

"──And then, and then! Ever since that day, the upperclassmen have been absolutely doting on Asuka. They're practically Kohinata Asuka believers now! Well, anybody can see how cute Asuka is, so I bet the first-years will catch on soon too."

　Calling it an incident was probably too dramatic. Saejima was simply talking at full throttle. She really could talk.

　I wasn't trying to interrupt her, so it wasn't as though she was refusing to listen to me. She wasn't forcing her opinions on anyone or attacking me, either.

　So I was mostly fine. Still, a faint shiver crawled up my spine.

　Keiichi seemed to be keeping an eye on me, but maybe he considered this part of my recovery too, because he showed no sign of stepping in.

　Rehab. This is rehab.

　I repeated that to myself while half-listening to Saejima ramble on──

"And then──mmph!"

　Without warning, Kohinata clapped a hand over Saejima's mouth.

　Saejima mumbled into her palm, eyes wide with surprise.

　Then she glanced at me and immediately wilted like a puppy that had just been scolded by its owner.

　As soon as Kohinata let go, Saejima bowed deeply toward me. She had already been sitting in seiza, so it practically looked like dogeza.

"Sorry. I talked too much."

"……No, don't worry about it. You didn't do anything wrong, Saejima. This is just how my body reacts," I said with a wry smile. Keiichi immediately chimed in brightly, "Exactly. I knew what was happening and didn't stop you either. Tomoki was starting to hit his limit, though, so nice save, Kohinata."

　Exactly──that was what surprised me most. Kohinata had acted on her own.

　Saejima's rapid-fire chatter hadn't stopped because she reined herself in, or because Keiichi intervened. Kohinata had stopped her.

　After a few slow, quiet breaths, I told her, "Thanks, Kohinata. See? I'm fine now."

　I wasn't completely back to normal, but I could at least smile at her without forcing it.

　Kohinata gave an emphatic nod, popped up a tiny thumbs-up, and let out an adorable fusuu through her nose.

　And then──she started doing something I couldn't make heads or tails of.

"………………Wh-what's wrong, Kohinata?"

　She fidgeted, leaned her head toward me, then suddenly shook herself back to her senses, returned to her spot, and went fusuu. Then she fidgeted again, tilted toward me again, pulled back again, and went fusuu again.

　She repeated the cycle several times. I felt bad saying this after she'd just helped me, but I had absolutely no idea what it meant.

[Illustration: p160.jpg]

　Keiichi watched Kohinata like he'd found something entertaining. Saejima's eyes widened for an instant, then she smiled gently, as though she'd understood exactly what Kohinata was doing.

　I wanted to ask Saejima what it meant, since she seemed to understand Kohinata. But right now, I wanted even more to simply sit there and admire this cute little creature.

　So that was what I did.

 

 

　A few days passed after that Monday lunch with Kohinata and the others.

　Before I knew it, the four of us were meeting in the courtyard almost every day, and eating lunch together had started to feel completely normal.

　Refusing out of nowhere would have felt strange, and I didn't have any real reason to refuse in the first place.

　Keiichi was there like always, spending time with Kohinata was soothing, and Saejima was actively helping me work through my problem with girls.

　If anything still bothered me, it was the reactions around us. But after the four of us talked on Monday, even that stopped weighing on me much. Maybe I'd only imagined those hostile looks because I was too self-conscious.

　As for Kohinata's strange behavior that Monday, Saejima refused to explain it, so it remained a mystery. Asking Kohinata herself, What exactly was that? felt awkward.

　Saejima's reaction told me it was probably something positive, so I didn't think I needed to worry. Still, it nagged at me a little.

"Here, Kohinata. Payback for all the candy."

　Once Kohinata finished lunch and hurriedly tucked her bento back into her bag, I handed her the bag of cookies I'd kept in my uniform pocket.

　Her eyelids lifted a little higher than usual as she looked back and forth between my face and the chocolate-chip cookie in her palm.

"Huh? Tomoki, where's mine?"

"Sorry. No luck. I only brought what we had left at home."

"Oooh! Lucky you, Asuka!"

　Keiichi sounded faintly teasing. Saejima, meanwhile, watched Kohinata with the warm smile of a mother looking at her child.

　Kohinata turned to Saejima and nodded repeatedly, so at least she didn't seem to dislike it. I secretly breathed a sigh of relief. The Mont Blanc she'd eaten at Ikoi had chocolate in it too, so my guess had apparently been right.

　They were just convenience-store cookies, nothing special. Still, it made going out of my way to buy them feel worth it. I was embarrassed, so I'd lied and called them leftovers.

"You've given me candy a few times now. I'd feel bad taking without ever giving anything back…… so if you don't hate them, eat up."

　Kohinata nodded vigorously, about thirty percent harder than usual.

　Gah──what is this creature……? Is it even legal to be this cute!?

　But if other people saw this adorable side of her, the number of people trying to feed Kohinata snacks would definitely explode. The odds were easily over 120 percent.

　And there was no guarantee every one of them would be harmless.

　I hurriedly scanned the courtyard. Thankfully, nobody seemed to be looking our way.

"Listen, Kohinata. If some stranger says, I'll give you candy, you do not follow them, okay? Got it?"

"…………(Nod, nod)"

　If anyone had witnessed that angelic display, I'd have spent the rest of my school life watching them twenty-four seven. I needed to show some restraint and stop casually feeding Kohinata treats myself.

"Putting your sudden spike in paranoia aside, what are we doing Sunday? You're off from the cafe, right?"

　Admire Kohinata. Scan the surroundings.

　As I alternated between the two, Keiichi addressed me with an exasperated look.

　Good grief…… Do you seriously not understand Kohinata's adorableness? Your IQ is too low. Go meditate under a waterfall or something!

"Yeah. I work Saturday, but I'm off Sunday. No plans."

　I usually worked weekends, but not every single one.

　Doing nothing but school and work would wear me out and make it feel as though my high-school life was passing me by. So I made sure my schedule gave me at least two full days off every month.

"I'm free too~!"

"…………(Nod, nod)"

　The moment I said I was free, Saejima and Kohinata answered as naturally as though they had been waiting for it.

　These two…… realized that meant spending their day off with Keiichi and me, right? Then again, they'd already visited my workplace on weekends, so maybe it was a little late to be surprised.

　Noticing my puzzled look, Saejima looked a little apologetic. "It's not like we were hiding it or anything, but at those meetings, we talked about how it'd be nice to actually go somewhere with Sugino-kun on a day off if we got the chance. Whenever we visited your workplace, that was the whole point of the trip, so we always split up right afterward."

"Huh…… Couldn't you have just hung out afterward?"

"Well…… I didn't want it to feel like I was using your problem as an excuse to hang out with Karakusa-kun."

"You could've just called that a perk."

"I-It's not like that! Anyway, if we're going to hang out, I want all four of us there!" Saejima insisted, her cheeks faintly red. I couldn't help letting out an exasperated sigh.

　She really was the embodiment of justice…… the kind of person without a shred of malice in her. As a dedicated Kohinata admirer, having someone like that by Kohinata's side was reassuring.

"I see. I'd feel a little lonely being left out too, so count me in. Just don't make everything about fixing my problem with girls, okay?"

　If everyone spent the whole day tiptoeing around me, none of us would enjoy our precious day off.

　Thanks to Saejima, Kohinata, and Keiichi, I could feel my discomfort around girls gradually fading. The method was a little forceful, but I was genuinely grateful.

　If we kept spending time together like this and I eventually became capable of having a normal romance, that might actually be fun.

 

 

☆　☆　☆　☆　☆

 

 

　And then Sunday finally arrived.

　When I really thought about it, I'd spent my whole life hanging out with guy friends. I had never once gone out with girls on a day off.

　I'd run into girls from class while hanging out with Keiichi in middle school, sure, but we'd never gathered specifically to spend the day together. Back then, I would've canceled at the last minute without question. That was how bad my aversion to girls had been.

"I hate that you look good in literally anything……" I grumbled, glaring sidelong at Keiichi as we walked toward the large supermarket where we were meeting the girls.

　It was just after noon, so we still had plenty of time before our one o'clock meeting.

[Illustration: p134.jpg]

　Keiichi wore pure-white pants and a sky-blue shirt, with a long wallet tucked into his back pocket and no bag at all.

　White pants felt like something only a guy with model proportions and serious fashion confidence could pull off. At the very least, I knew they wouldn't suit me.

"Hahaha! I do get paid for looking good in clothes, you know. But yours look good too, Tomoki. Did you always own that outfit?"

"I sprinted out and bought it after work yesterday."

"Oooh! You're unusually serious about this!"

"It's not like that…… I just didn't want to show up in worn-out, unfashionable clothes when I was going out with girls. I'm going to be standing next to you beautiful people all day. I at least want my outfit to look decent."

　Not that I'd done anything elaborate. Beige chinos and a white hoodie with a logo on the chest──a completely ordinary combination. I'd bought the exact outfit off a mannequin, so there was no way it looked that strange.

　Keiichi answered my self-deprecation with the obvious flattery, "Huh? Your face isn't bad at all, Tomoki." I snorted at him.

　The plan for today was to catch the bus from the stop in front of the supermarket and ride for about twenty minutes. Our destination: the bowling alley.

　As the supermarket came into view, I murmured, "Wonder what kind of day this is going to be."

　Half excited, half nervous. That was about right.

　Still, this was a rare day off with no work. Not enjoying it would be a waste.

 

 

　We reached the supermarket and killed about ten minutes chatting. Then I spotted Saejima on the opposite side of the road, waving both arms. Beside her stood Kohinata in a slightly oversized casquette.

　Saejima took Kohinata by the hand and jogged across the crosswalk. With their height difference, they looked more like sisters than classmates.

　The moment they reached us, Saejima exclaimed with her usual bright energy, "Sorry to keep you waiting~! Karakusa-kun looks cool in anything, like always. And Sugino-kun, seeing you in casual clothes is so fresh! They suit you! You're not in your usual black apron!" She had on denim shorts and a short-sleeved T-shirt, showing a lot more skin than her uniform did.

"Idiot. That's my work uniform, not casual clothes," I shot back, trying not to show how embarrassed I was by the compliment. I could only pray my face hadn't gone red.

"You two look great too. Feels like you both know exactly what works for you. Right, Tomoki?"

"Ah──yeah. Definitely."

"Ehehe, thanks, Karakusa-kun, Sugino-kun! Since we're bowling today, I picked something easy to move in," Saejima said with a dazzlingly bright smile.

　Unfortunately, I didn't have Keiichi's nerve when it came to complimenting girls. I could agree with somebody else, sure, but saying it first myself? Impossible. I'd die of embarrassment if they teased me.

　Kohinata wasn't wearing the fluffy outfit she'd worn to the cafe. Today she had a plaid casquette with a matching skirt and a slightly oversized white knit top. The look was completely different, yet somehow it suited her perfectly.

　Normally, even thinking that wouldn't be enough to make me compliment a girl. Apparently, though, every rule had an exception.

"Morning, Kohinata. That plaid hat's cute. It really suits you." Somehow, the embarrassing line came out perfectly smoothly, without a single stumble.

　Maybe it was because I knew Kohinata wouldn't laugh at me or make fun of me. Or maybe the scream inside my head had simply become impossible to suppress.

　I didn't think Saejima would laugh either…… so what made Kohinata different? I honestly couldn't explain it.

　Still, wasn't she even cuter than usual today? If I let my guard down, I might start giving her spending money. Would twenty thousand yen be enough?

　At the compliment, Kohinata swayed from side to side without changing expression. Maybe out of embarrassment, she pechi'd my hand, then hurriedly started typing on her phone.

"──Let's see…… 【Sugino, it hits you】?"

　That baffling phrase was displayed on the screen she held out to me.

　It hits me? What exactly is supposed to hit me!?

"Hey, Kohinata. What's hitting me?"

　There was nowhere near enough information to work with, so I planted my hands on my knees, bent down, and asked her directly.

　She did a triple take at her own screen, then pechiri'd my hand again.

"H-Huh? How is this my fault?"

　Kohinata very clearly turned away with a hmph. While I stood there dumbfounded, I noticed Keiichi and Saejima smirking at us. What was with those we understand everything faces?

"That one was your fault, Tomoki."

"You're slow on the uptake, Sugino-kun. You've got to catch a typo like that instantly."

　A typo? So something on the screen had been entered wrong?

　It was around the time our bus pulled up that I finally realized Kohinata had been trying to type 【It suits you】.

 

 

　Twenty minutes on the bus later, the four of us reached the bowling alley.

　Keiichi and I had been there plenty of times, and I figured Saejima and Kohinata probably had too. It was a big, well-equipped facility──and, more importantly, there wasn't another bowling alley anywhere nearby.

　We handed in the forms we'd filled out, rented shoes in our sizes, chose appropriately weighted balls from the colorful racks, and headed for our lanes.

　Since there were four of us, we decided to make it a team match using two lanes.

　We used everyone's usual scores to split into teams. Three games, and the losing team bought drinks for the winners. Simple.

"That bastard Keiichi…… He definitely lowballed his score. Does he really want a free drink that badly?"

　I glared toward the next lane while changing into my rental shoes. Keiichi was over there rolling his shoulders.

　If memory served, Keiichi usually scored better than I did. Bowling almost always turned into a competition between us, so I had a decent sense of who won more often.

　And yet he'd said, "Tomoki's definitely better than me. Kohinata probably can't throw anything but a light ball, so putting her with Tomoki should balance things out. You girls okay with that?" That was how I ended up paired with Kohinata, supposedly the weakest bowler of the four.

　If the price of pairing with Kohinata was one drink, maybe that was actually a bargain. Though Saejima had made a strangely bitter face while Keiichi was arranging the teams…… What had that been about?

 

 

　Sounding exactly like a parent, I warned Kohinata as she tied her bowling shoes beside me, "Tie those laces properly. You could get hurt if you trip."

　She looked up at me and nodded repeatedly. Leave it to me! was practically written all over her.

　Bowling on a day off with girls in cute casual clothes, huh…… If I erased Keiichi and Saejima from my brain, this almost looked like a date. No, actually, maybe more like a parent taking his kid out. At the very least, I doubted Kohinata was thinking anything as romantic as a date.

"Keiichi said all that, but he's better than me. So don't get mad if we lose, okay?"

　My defeatist speech came before we'd even started, but Kohinata simply nodded without changing expression and gave my back a few encouraging pats. The fact that this alone made me feel ready to try harder suggested I might be much simpler than I thought.

 

 

　And with that, game one began. Both teams had the boys throw first.

　After two throws each, Keiichi had nine pins and I had eight. The first frame was basically a warm-up anyway. Nothing strange there.

"Man, it's been a while! I've lost the feel for this! Hahaha!"

"But that was amazing! The ball was so fast I thought the pins might break!"

　Their cheerful voices carried over from the lane to our right. Keiichi was more power than technique, so his throw probably looked especially impressive to the girls.

　Then there was Team Tomoki-and-Kohinata.

"That's about what I can do. Like I said, I'm not that good, so keep your expectations low."

　I tried to lower the bar, but Kohinata merely gave a slow nod and raised her thumb. It was clearly a thumbs-up, but with such a tiny finger, nyoki felt more appropriate than good. Cute.

　Then Kohinata trotted over to the ball rack and started communicating with Saejima. She looked strangely fidgety. What were those two talking about?

"Looks like we're both doing okay. This might actually be a good match," Keiichi called from the seat across from me while I watched the girls.

　The nerve of this guy.

"……A light ball doesn't automatically mean a low score, you know. Don't come crying to me if Kohinata makes you regret it."

"Huh? Is Kohinata good?"

"No idea…… but if she's an unknown, that means either possibility is still open."

　For all I knew, she could be the best one here. Bowling did need some power, though, so I wasn't exactly betting on it.

　Keiichi laughed at my mildly sulky answer.

"Fine, fine. If the score gets too lopsided, I'll adjust so it stays fun. Besides, you're more comfortable paired with Kohinata than with Saejima, aren't you?"

"Obviously. So that was your real reason."

　I'd suspected as much.

　So Keiichi had only rigged the teams to pair me with Kohinata. He hadn't lied about his score because he was desperate for a free drink. Thoughtful or meddlesome…… probably both.

　Well, win or lose, if we could end the day thinking that was fun, that was good enough.

 

 

~The Girls' Conversation~

 

 

"Aaa-suuu-kaaa?"

"…………(Hmph)"

"I know you want to team up with Sugino-kun, but pretending you're bad at bowling is a little much, don't you think?"

"…………(Fidget, fidget)"

"Looking away isn't going to fool me!"

"…………(Polish, polish)"

"Why did you suddenly start polishing the ball!? You never do that!"

"…………(Tap, tap)"

"Let's see…… 【Juice. Counting on you.】!? That's awful! You're not even going to hold back!?"

"…………"

"──Haa…… honestly. If our team loses, you're buying me a drink at school next time, okay?"

"…………(Nod, nod)"

"Then it's a deal! I'll do my best not to embarrass myself in front of the boys either!"

 

 

☆　☆　☆　☆　☆

 

 

　Clack, clack, clack, clack──

　The four of us silently watched the pins topple to that almost comically leisurely sound.

　Kohinata had thrown the ball. The moment it left her hand, she turned around and headed back without even waiting for the result.

　Her ball moved so slowly that Kohinata could trot all the way back to the seats before it reached the pins. Keiichi and I probably couldn't pull that off even if we ran.

"………………Another strike. I knew she was good, but isn't Kohinata way too strong?" Keiichi muttered in a daze as the final pin fell.

　I agreed. I also felt like a small chunk of my confidence as a man had just been shaved away.

　We'd finished games one and two and were now partway through the third.

　The match was already over before the third game's result even mattered. Team Kohinata-and-me had clinched it. The culprit was Kohinata. She was ridiculously good.

"Average score around 220, huh," I muttered while staring at the monitor.

　Kohinata, sitting neatly beside me, nodded.

　That was nowhere near normal-high-schooler territory. Even on my best day, I'd never broken 200.

"And Asuka's actually having an off day. When she comes with me or Shizuka-san, she's even crazier," Saejima said with a grin.

　As for Saejima, even her first two games combined didn't reach one of Kohinata's scores. So that was why she'd made such a bitter face when the teams were chosen.

　Kohinata was the abnormal one; Saejima wasn't actually that bad. The four high-school-aged girls in the lane to our left were doing much worse.

　Then again, maybe their scores couldn't be helped.

　Apparently, all four were getting destroyed by hay fever and were bowling with tissues stuffed in their noses. I thought they should probably care a little more about how they looked in public, but I hardly had enough romantic experience to lecture strangers about appearances, so I kept the thought to myself. Besides, I didn't have the nerve to talk to girls I didn't know anyway.

　They looked vaguely familiar, so maybe they were students from Ousei High School.

　Anyway.

"Kohinata, you're seriously amazing."

　I'd lost count of how many times I'd said that since we started bowling. Kohinata swayed happily from side to side, then let out a proud little fusuu without changing expression. Was she happy to be praised?

"Next time, maybe we should make it guys versus girls."

　Judging from today's scores, that would probably produce the closest match.

　The moment I said it, Kohinata froze mid-sway and stared up at me from below, as if trying to tell me something.

"Hmm? What's wrong?"

　I asked, assuming she had something to say. Instead, she closed her eyes and turned away with a hmph.

"The scores go Kohinata, Keiichi, me, then Saejima. Wouldn't that make the teams more even?"

"…………(Hmph)"

"Then what about amidakuji? Or we could split up with rock-or-paper."

"…………(Hmph)"

　Figuring out when Kohinata was happy was hard. Figuring out when she was displeased was surprisingly easy.

　What did I do this time?

 

 

　After bowling, we headed to the arcade in the same building. The first and second floors were bowling lanes, while a huge game center occupied the basement.

　As we rode the escalator down, Keiichi waved a coupon marked 【One Free Crane Game】 and said, "The crane games you can play with these free coupons are always either insanely hard or stocked with terrible prizes."

"Well, it is free."

"Even if you don't win anything, you still got to play for free! Besides, from the bowling alley's point of view, the real goal is probably just getting you into the arcade, whether you win a prize or not."

　Saejima and I answered Keiichi. The background music was getting louder as we descended, so our voices rose with it. Kohinata, as usual, simply nodded along.

　I'd already suspected it on the escalator, but Sunday meant the arcade was packed. Plenty of people probably came to the building for the game center rather than the bowling.

　A quick glance showed families everywhere, along with plenty of older people and students. Since I hated crowds, I had no desire to stay long.

　And here I was with Kohinata, basically the school's idol, and Saejima, who was almost certainly popular too. If someone from Ousei spotted us, things could get annoying…… Without Keiichi here, I might've been burned at the stake like some witch. Still, we'd come out to have fun. Obsessing over it would only ruin the day.

"You're not playing, Kohinata?"

　When we reached the crane game that accepted the free coupon, Kohinata handed hers to me. At my question, she nodded.

"Nothing here you want?"

"…………(Shake, shake)"

"Then you're bad at crane games?"

"…………(Nod, nod)"

"It's free. You really don't have to worry about wasting it."

　Even if she won nothing, moving the claw around and getting excited over the attempt seemed worthwhile to me. Kohinata only shook her head. She clearly had no intention of playing.

　Maybe because she'd carried our team at bowling, she was giving this turn to me? Not that I was good at crane games either.

"Then I'll give mine to Karakusa-kun too! I'm counting on you!"

"Whaaat!? Tomoki's decision somehow splashed damage onto me too!"

"How is that my fault!? Complain to the free coupon!"

"Free coupon, this is all your faaaault!"

"Don't actually yell at it…… You look like an idiot, Keiichi."

　Result: Keiichi and I, burdened with the girls' hopes, failed to win a single prize with the free coupons.

　Then the two stubborn boys fell perfectly into the company's trap and marched toward the change machine, wallets in hand.

　Goodbye, two hours of part-time wages. I regret nothing.

 

 

　After spending the day bowling and playing at the arcade like proper students, we decided to eat dinner at a nearby family restaurant.

　We had already decided to eat out that night, so everyone had told their families not to prepare dinner. That obviously didn't matter to me, living alone. I kept plenty of rice stocked in the freezer anyway.

　The restaurant had so many customers that comparing it with Ikoi almost felt unfair.

　Maybe because the entertainment complex was nearby, there were plenty of students like us mixed in with the families. I could only pray none of them were from Ousei High School.

　A server led us to a table for four. I sighed and gave the three people who had already sat down a flat stare. How did this happen?

"I suppose it's possible Keiichi and Saejima are secretly that close, but──for now, somebody explain."

　Keiichi had claimed the seat beside Saejima. The only open seat was next to Kohinata. In other words, that was my only option.

　If two boys and two girls who weren't couples sat at the same table, surely the normal arrangement was boys together and girls together. I had zero firsthand experience, of course, so this was merely a deduction based on common sense.

"Keep looking that unhappy and you'll hurt Kohinata's feelings~," Keiichi said with a far-too-pleased grin instead of answering me.

"I'm not unhappy──I'm not. It's just painfully obvious you're plotting something. I assume this is part of helping me get used to girls, but did Kohinata actually agree to it?"

　I turned toward the supposed victim. Kohinata looked straight back at me and nodded repeatedly. Hmm…… she didn't seem bothered.

"Come on, Sugino-kun. You're more comfortable having a guy across from you while you eat than a girl, right?"

"Mmm…… now that you mention it, yeah."

　Beside me or directly across from me──during a meal, having a girl beside me was probably easier simply because she wouldn't stay in my line of sight.

"Anyway, stop standing there and sit down. And pick your food already! I actually exercised properly for the first time in ages, so I'm starving!"

"Yeah, yeah, fine…… Kohinata, I'm taking the seat next to you."

"…………(Nod, nod)"

　Her face remained as blank as ever.

　Maybe it wasn't a matter of whether she liked or disliked sitting beside me. Maybe she simply didn't register me as a boy in the first place. With people of both sexes constantly doting on her, that wouldn't be too surprising.

 

 

　Keiichi ordered the steak set, I chose ginger pork, and the girls ordered carbonara and omurice.

　Kohinata was the one with the omurice. Between you and me, the sheer Kohinata-ness of that choice warmed my heart a little.

　The pair sitting across from me finished first, then rubbed their stomachs in almost perfect synchronization. I was nearly full too.

　Only Kohinata, seated beside me, was still studying the dessert section of the menu with deadly seriousness, going fusu-fusu through her nose. Without noticing me watching, she looked across at Saejima.

"Hmm? I think I'm done. I'm stuffed."

"I had another bowl of rice too. If you want dessert, go ahead and order something, Kohinata."

　The two of them understood what she wanted from the open menu and her silent stare, and both told her they didn't want dessert.

　Kohinata's lower lip pushed out by the tiniest amount. She looked longingly back down at the menu, then glanced sideways at me.

　Ah…… I see.

　She wanted dessert, but if nobody else ordered anything, eating alone would make her feel awkward. That had to be it. She usually seemed completely self-paced, but apparently she did worry about things like this.

"Tomoki doesn't really like sweets, so──"

"Maybe I'll get this matcha cake."

　I talked right over Keiichi before he could say anything else unnecessary and pointed at one of the desserts on Kohinata's page. Her eyes widened as she snapped her head toward me.

"Aren't you getting anything, Kohinata? I'd feel awkward being the only one eating dessert, so I'd appreciate some company."

"…………! (Nod, nod!)"

　Kohinata nodded so violently that gestures apparently weren't enough. She hurriedly typed on her phone and showed me the wonderfully broken sentence 【Eat. Me too. Dessert.】. Relax. The dessert wasn't going anywhere, and neither was my offer.

"Then pick what you want. My guess is this Mont Blanc."

　Even with facial muscles that seemed permanently locked in place, her excitement was obvious. When I guessed her order, Kohinata jerked her head up from the menu and blinked rapidly, practically radiating How did you know!?

"You told me you liked chestnuts at Ikoi, remember? Mont Blanc okay?"

"…………(Nod, nod!)"

　With my hand on the call button, I asked, "Got it. Keiichi, Saejima, you two are really sure you don't want anything?" The pair shook their heads in perfect sync again.

"Somehow I feel even fuller now."

"Yeah. I think I've had enough sweetness for now."

　For some reason, both wore wry smiles and said things I couldn't quite follow.

　Since when is carbonara sweet?

 

 

　While we waited for dessert, the four of us made trips to the drink bar and killed time with ordinary conversation──how the new classes were going, what might be on the next test, things like that.

　The moment we started discussing the test range, Kohinata abruptly began folding her wet towel into a rabbit. That was when I first began to suspect she hated studying.

　Anyway.

　The desserts were apparently prepared in advance, because despite all that talk of killing time, they arrived in only four or five minutes.

　A Mont Blanc was placed in front of Kohinata and a matcha shortcake in front of me.

　People say there's always room for dessert, and somehow seeing cake in front of me really did make my stomach feel a little larger. The human body was mysterious.

　I'd never been the type to order cakes or other sweets for myself, but I didn't hate them. With black coffee to cut the sweetness, I could enjoy them just fine. And the matcha cake I'd chosen shouldn't be too sweet anyway.

　Armed with black coffee from the drink bar, I was fully prepared.

"……That's an unusual way to eat it."

　Kohinata was going fusu-fusu through her nose as she sliced the dome-shaped Mont Blanc cleanly in half. Using her dessert fork and knife with surprising skill, she transferred one half onto a small plate.

　Then she slowly slid that half toward me.

"……Hmm? What's this?"

【Half for you too.】

"You want to try both cakes?"

　While I stared at the cake and her phone in confusion, Kohinata typed again.

【Sugino, you said you wanted someone to eat with you.】

　……Yeah. I definitely said that. That's not quite what I meant, though.

　If I rejected her now, she'd probably wilt. This cute little creature rarely showed her feelings on her face, but at the very least, I wanted her to be smiling inside.

"All right. Half and half, then. Can you pass me another plate?"

"…………(Nod, nod)"

　Kohinata nodded and timidly offered me a small plate with both hands.

　Every little movement seemed nothing like a high-school girl, yet it was so absurdly cute that I couldn't help smiling.

 

 

☆　☆　☆　☆　☆

 

 

　By the time our bus returned us to the stop where we'd met that afternoon, it was already past seven.

　After parting with Saejima and Keiichi, I walked through the night with Kohinata alone.

　The wind was cool, and the sun had already slipped below the horizon.

　I've always liked dawn and times like this, just after sunset. I couldn't explain why, but those hours calmed me.

"So, anyway. Here."

　What do you mean, "so, anyway"? Even I thought the transition made no sense as I pulled two thumb-sized cat-plush straps from my pocket and set them on my palm where Kohinata could see.

　One was a calico, the other black. The material was somewhere between plastic and rubber, and both looked a little like beckoning cats.

　Kohinata stared at the pair, looked up at me, then tilted her head.

"Remember when we split up and played crane games separately for a while? I got these then."

　Her gaze returned to the cats. She snuffled softly through her nose, plainly fascinated.

"I tried putting in a hundred yen and got lucky enough to win both. I don't really put this kind of thing on my stuff, so honestly, I wasn't sure what to do with them. If you like them, want them?"

　Kohinata nodded vigorously.

　The truth was, I'd fed the machine considerably more than one hundred yen. Still, she seemed to like them. Thank goodness.

　I'd tried the machine for the extremely simple reason that they looked like something Kohinata would like. Apparently, the persistence had paid off.

　After staring at the two cats for a while, Kohinata pinched one loop between her tiny thumb and index finger and lifted it. The black cat rose into the air.

"You don't have to pick just one. You can have both."

　She shook her head. Apparently, she didn't want the second one.

　That left me with a problem. If Kohinata didn't take it, what was I supposed to do with the other cat? I hadn't thought that far ahead.

"Hmm…… Then maybe I'll give the calico to Saejima, Akane-san, or Manager."

　Surely at least one of them would want it. If all three refused, I'd secretly attach it to Keiichi's school bag.

　I was staring at the calico stranded in my palm when pechi──something tapped my waist. The culprit required no investigation.

"Hmm? Changed your mind? You want this one too?"

　Kohinata shook her head. Apparently not.

"……Then you don't want me giving it to someone else?"

　Kohinata nodded.

　Why was giving it away forbidden if she didn't want it herself? If she said that, the calico had nowhere else to go. It would be stuck with me forev──oh.

"You mean…… I'm supposed to use the calico?"

　Exactly! seemed to be the message behind her vigorous nod. Seriously?

"……Now, listen, Kohinata-san. Don't you think a guy with rumors like mine would look unbelievably creepy carrying around this adorable little kitty?"

　A guy rumored to beat and extort people walking around with an adorable calico strap…… Yeah, didn't that sound suspicious?

　Kohinata shook her head hard. Not at all!

"Is that so…… Well, if I just display it in my room, nobody has to see it. I can live with that."

　At worst, the friends who came over would tease me about it.

　I said it with a sigh. Pechi. She hit my waist again.

"Huh? That's not allowed either?"

　Kohinata gave one big nod. She was unusually forceful today.

　She wasn't talking over me or pressuring me verbally, so it didn't make me feel sick at all. My pulse, on the other hand, was another matter.

　Kohinata pulled out her phone and started typing.

　I suddenly felt like a defendant waiting for the verdict. Not that I'd ever actually been one.

　Then she turned the screen toward me.

"You mean my school──bag?"

　All she'd typed was 【Bag】.

　Was this tiny young lady seriously ordering me to attach the adorable cat to my school bag?

　Kohinata looked down near my feet, strangely restless, then dipped her chin in a small yes. Maybe I was imagining it, but her ears looked a little red.

　Was this supposed to be a "matching with Papa~" kind of thing for her?

　If that was how she felt, then knowing she'd lost her father made it hard to reject her outright. Maybe I was worrying more than necessary, but I couldn't pretend that fact didn't exist.

"……Okay, okay. I get it. But you're putting yours on something too, right? If we both carry matching straps, somebody might start assuming we're a couple. I'm used to people looking at me strangely, so I don't really care anymore, but you're still sure?"

　For me, strange looks weren't even the only concern. I also had to worry about some Kohinata fan stabbing me. Maybe I should start keeping a thick magazine under my shirt.

　At my self-deprecating joke, she gave a slow, emphatic nod, then typed 【I'm fine.】 and showed me.

　Come to think of it, I might be used to strange looks, but Kohinata barely cared about other people's attention in the first place. I'd completely forgotten.

"……Haa. Understood, Kohinata-sama."

　She nodded several times, looking thoroughly satisfied.

　Still, when she said I'm fine, which part did she mean? Being mistaken for a couple, or being stared at strangely……?