Yamada-san is… even more resilient than she says she is. Way more than I gave her credit for. How could I be called resilient? There is a huge gap between us in that department…

  At that point, Raichi had already been daydreaming momentarily, busy with his self-doubts. He thought his efforts to maintain an uncaring, loner mask were more comparable to cowardice, a characteristic opposite of resilience. His mockup personality could only fool the likes of the blabbermouth and telltale idiots around him, who only cared as much about what was on the surface as all the evidence liable to judgment. He couldn't even follow his own words of stranger's opinions not mattering to him, because in the end, they did matter to him.

  ''Sato-kunn~? Earth to Sato-kun~!'' A voice slowly unmuffled to him, waving her hand in his face. ''C'mon… Nee-san is waiting for us!''

  ''Oh–! Sorry, Yamada-san… my bad.'' He apologized, scratching his back. ''I was just… zoned out.''

  ''W–Wait…'' Yaori sifted through him, which put him on edge as she looked his face up and down. ''You're—You're making that face again…''

  ''N-Not that face…'' He teased. But on the inside, he was spooked by how easily she read through him.

  ''N–Never mind… I wouldn't pry it out of you. But…'' She pouted, crossing her arms playfully. ''I hope you wouldn't mind if I asked when we're alone.''

  ''O-Okay…''

  As Yaori opened the door, Raichi could already smell the fragrant aroma leaking from the kitchen into the corridor, sniffing rather audibly. It smelled like something savory, likely something marine. But… that wouldn't narrow it down all that much.

  ''I see you're already invested in whatever Nee-san might have cooked up.''

  ''O-Oh– I hope I wasn't being too overly enthusiastic about it. I– um– kinda love food.'' He said, scratching his back with a bashful smile.

  ''Me too. I think you will really like Nee-san's cooking.''

  ''Well… if that's what you say, then I'll just have to prepare myself.''

  Raichi confidently crossed his arms, eager to see Ayaka's culinary talent. He loved his mother's cooking, as such, his expectations suddenly rose to the roof. And then… the door was slid open.

  W-Woah…! This is…

  In front of him stood a feast like he had never seen before. There were many things to count. Where could he even begin?

  The sheer variety of food sprawled across the table was incomprehensible. It resembled a festival meal table rather than a simple dinner, like those plates of fake dishes laid out for a gourmet restaurant photoshoot. Everything was arranged so meticulously.

  Each stool had a bowl of miso soup in front of it, crispy karaage nestled alongside, and the one Raichi had already picked up on: grilled mackerel smothered with soy glaze. Heck —there was even sashimi. The amount of seafood scattered on the table had Raichi gawking. And lastly, as a cherry on top, there was a serving of many kinds of pickled vegetables, from the purple to the dark green.

  ''Wh-What… is this?'' He hardly stammered, his eyes blinking rapidly.

  "Dinner, duh. I quickly whipped something up." Ayaka asserted her confidence.

  "Q-Quickly!?"

  As his eyes lay upon the impressive set of dishes, Ayaka stood confidently at the far end of the table. She gestured for the two to sit down.

  ''C'mon now. Sit down and enjoy yourselves already. I went all out for a reason, y'know.''

  She poked fun, exasperated yet sarcastic, as she sat down with them. Raichi and Yaori looked attentively at her, able to tell she wasn't done talking.

  Her eyes were closed, sulking. That was until she finally took notice of the expectant look on their faces.

  ''Ah… don't worry about it, then.''

  ''Um– okay…''

  ''Thanks for the food!'' The Yamadas and Raichi said in unison, as Raichi sipped his miso soup, still in awe at the size of the table.

  This–this is a whole restaurant menu! Ayaka-san's cooking is truly incredible...! I wonder if Yamada-san is just as talented at this stuff, too… she did briefly mention she helps out with cooking at home back at the supermarket.

  He wanted to enjoy the food served to him as much as possible, so he decided to take his time swallowing. After taking a small bite of the delicious karaage, he briefly paused to appreciate Ayaka's efforts.

  ''This is really, really good, Ayaka-san.''

  ''Thanks. I hope you enjoy it to its fullest.'' Ayaka giggled, a smug smile on her face. ''I mean… we don't have guests very often. So, when we do, I know how to treat them right.''

  ''Wh-What do you mean by that?''

  ''I thought that you should know, Sato-kun… you're the first boy Yaori-chan has ever invited over to dinner.''

  ''Wait. Wha?'' Raichi had just picked up a pair of chopsticks, and he barely held on to them, thanks to his brain suddenly short-circuiting.

  ''N–Nee-san!'' Yaori said, talking with food in her mouth, almost choking on her food.

  Raichi comically pointed to himself, his eyes widened. ''I'm… the first?''

  Before Ayaka could respond though, Raichi's attention turned toward Yaori, coughing in small breaths.

  ''Y-Yamada-san, are you okay?''

  She put her hands up in front of her chest, complaining adorably. ''I–I'll be fine! I was just… just— caught off guard. Why would you say something like that out of the blue, Nee-san!?''

  ''Whaat? I was just setting the facts straight.'' Ayaka scoffed playfully, smiling to herself. ''It wasn't a lie, after all.''

  ''T-True— but..!''

  Suddenly, Ayaka put her hand out toward the middle of the table, wagging her finger. All the while Raichi happily chowed down on the food.

  ''Ah ah ah~! The food will get cold, y'know!''

  ''H-Hmph! You don't play fair, Nee-san…'' Yaori puffed her cheeks, putting her arms together and pretending to turn away.

  ''Well! Just look at Sato-kun. He is eating like I told him to.''

  Yaori's cheeks suddenly warmed up as she swiftly glanced at him, busy gradually wolfing down the huge feast. She kept her gaze fixated on him, their eyes meeting as Raichi awkwardly raised his head back up, his mouth filled to the brim with food.

  ''S-Sorry, I wvas too focwused on eaeding– did I mwiss somedhing?'' He asked naively, his appetite now in full view. ''I… I howpe I wasn't bewing ruvde orw anything…''

  Ayaka laughed out loud, unable to hold it in any longer. ''Now that is hilarious!''

  ''S—Sato-kunn! You mean to tell me you got lost in a conversation about yourself?!''

  He laughed lightly, scratching his head.''Wh-What?! I thought I shouldn't intrude on family bickering…''

  ''F-Family bickering?!'' She lashed out.

  ''Hahaha! Sato-kun, get a room!''

  ''I-I apologize!''

  ''Sato-kunn!''

  With that, Ayaka's laugh trailed off to the table, now completely emptied. Raichi tapped his belly, feeling proud of himself for thoroughly enjoying Ayaka's cooking. He couldn't even see Yaori looking at him frustrated.

  Yaori, seeing that it was pointless to try and get Raichi's attention at the moment, curiously glanced at her sister, the reflection of Ayaka's meaningful expression on the window.

  ''Nee-san? What's up?''

  ''The rain has picked up quite a lot…'' She muttered, letting out a saddened sigh. ''I'm not sure how safe it is for Sato-kun to leave now.''

  ''R-Rain? It wasn't even raining when we got here…'' Raichi chimed in. ''I-I mean… I do have an umbrella. So I could—''

  ''No. I won't let you go out in such weather on my conscience, Sato-kun.'' Ayaka reacted rather harshly, turning to face him. ''Well… someone could walk you back. I think Yaori-chan owes you that after making you carry half the groceries, no?''

  ''W-Walk him back?''

  Waving his hands in quick dismissal, Raichi said, ''No no no– I can handle this rain… there isn't anything for you to worry about.''

  ''I… I wouldn't want you to go out like this either, Sato-kun. It is true,'' Yaori said, turning to face the window. ''We–we could just wait it out… we could even continue reading in my room as we wait…''

  She said it rather absentmindedly, and her gaze wasn't even directed toward him then. The statement just came to her mind, eventually escaping her lips. The room fell silent for a few seconds until a confused Ayaka spoke up.

  ''Wh-What?''

  ''Y-Yamada-san??'' Raichi stammered, his voice laced ever so slightly with disbelief.

  Once he realized the casualness in her words, his eyes widened. Stiffening his posture, his gaze darted to her eyes. She eventually looked back at him, as if what she just said was all natural.

  ''Did I… say something wrong?''

  ''...No, no you didn't. Geez, sometimes you two put no thoughts between the things you say.''

  Ayaka put her hand on her face, facepalming. Her grin was easy to spot under her cover.

  Did she even realize what she just said?

  It does take a different way of thinking to misinterpret her exact words, but she hadn't even considered it. That was what was so without warning. The fact was that they had only been in that room once, and that was all it took for Yaori to get comfortable with having Raichi in there. His mind reeled, left off balance. And he could tell, Ayaka was aware of it.

  ''Y'know, Yaori-chan… very bold of you to invite Sato-kun so easily to your room.''

  ''H–Huh? What do you mean by that? The living room isn't exactly cozy… besides, you did say you'd be tinkering in the kitchen…''

  ''Oh, you idiot Yaori-chan,'' Her smirk betrayed the mischief brewing in her mind. ''Think for a second,''

  After a moment of silence, Yaori irked comically, now in grasp of what she just muttered. Her face immediately flushed red like a kettle.

  ''N–Nee-san!!'' Her voice shot up an octave, flailing her hands in protest. ''A–Are you twisting my words with your teasing again?!''

  Raichi cut into the 'family bickering' this time around. He instinctively looked away, blushing.

  ''I—I can wait it out in the kitchen…''

  ''It is too late for that, Sato-kun. Once Yaori-chan put the offer on the table, I refuse to back down on it.''

  ''N–Nee-san, are you listening to me?!'' She pouted. "You're not helping…"

  The look Yaori shot her sister could melt glaciers. But Ayaka seemingly didn't care. Her smirk was still wide open, and she was eager to put her sister in place.

  ''I am just being supportive, y'know.'' She quipped, holding her hands up. She reached for the cupboard nearby. ''Speaking of which, how about some dessert? I did buy a lot of yatsuhashi from our mall trip. I'd say it's perfect for a lovely rainy evening.''

  The way she put it was pronounced, and Yaori's brooding still lingered. She scoffed reaffirmingly. And as for Raichi, he could only mumble. He opened his mouth in an attempt to speak, but no words came out.

  ''I assume your silence means you want some. Here, you two can take it to your room.''

  Ayaka handed over a portion of yatsuhashi to Yaori, who avoided eye contact in a cute, sibling-like counterattack. But it was clearly not very effective. She had used the attack on the one person it wouldn't even touch.

  ''Here we are…''

  Yaori said as they stepped inside her lustrous room. The image of Yaori's room was already pressed inside Raichi's mind. It was an expression of her unlike any other, and he found it fascinating.

  Tonight, he learned of her motivations and drive, what made her so determined to be successful. It was like a shining beam of light, leading the way and the path to follow. He knew that, unlike her, he hadn't gotten his priorities straight.

  And a bittersweet smile was on his face as they sat down. His bittersweet mood was once again easy to read, at least for Yaori anyway.

  As she probed around the edges on how to politely bring up Raichi's mood, she deliberately pouted, acting and sounding playful to get his attention.

  "Sato-kunn. Get your head out of the gutter…"

  Raichi raised his downcast face to glance at her, not expecting the sudden inquiry.

  "Wh-What do you mean, Yamada-san? I'm totally fine, y'know."

  "No you're not. How many times do I have to tell you? Stop feeling afraid to confide in me for your troubles. This is the third time you've made that face…"

  "Oh–I… I see."

  Raichi's sudden shock quickly made way for mild astonishment. He smiled to himself, almost a little self-deprecating.

  "Heh. It is scary how well you see right through me, Yamada-san."

  "W-Well– It was a spur of the moment, but I've come to embrace it!" Yaori stammered bashfully, waving her fists in the air. "After exchanging so much in so little time… I've felt this… an indescribable feeling of protectiveness, okay?"

  She said a little passive-aggressively. A faint blush dusted itself on her cheeks.

  "P-Protectiveness…?"

  Raichi, who had been feeling the same way about her after today's events, had only just figured out that it was mutual. Whether this protectiveness could reach possessiveness was a different question, however. But, he knew that within just a few days, they had already become someone special to one another. He had never felt so… seen before, and this was new to him. At the same time though, he didn't want to burden and bother her with such an abrupt drop of information.

  "So—So don't feel hesitant to talk to me about things. You were there to listen to me, and I'll have to be there, too."

  "...You're amazing, Yamada-san, y'know that?"

  "Hehe. If you say so, then I must be."

  For a few solid seconds, their gazes lingered. A genuine, content smile on their features, before Yaori slowly reached out for a piece of yatsuhashi.

  Then, she rapidly shook her head left and right, embarrassed. He looked back at her blankly before she muttered,

  "H-Hey! You almost changed the topic! D-Don't distract me like that, I'm still waiting here, y'know…"

  "Fine, fine… if I must tell you, then I will. I just… had a general thought. An enlightenment, for better or worse."

  "Oh? Then… tell me about it."

  Yaori raised a brow, stopping herself, and shied away from grabbing another piece of yatsuhashi.

  As Raichi braced himself for impact, he shifted uncomfortably. He leaned in a shaky position, wriggling his hands together, gathering himself. His voice softened as he began, but sincere.

  "Especially after today… I've begun to admire you a lot, Yamada-san. You're so… driven, you know what you're working toward. You have a sense of… responsibility." He deliberately avoided her gaze, trying to hide the saddened look on his face. "And… what am I? I have nothing of the sort…"

  Yaori tilted her head slightly, her expression becoming more amiable and tender.

  "Sato-kun…"

  ''It's just that… I feel like I've entrusted everything I could to you. But… I barely know anything about you still, Yamada-san. And despite that– I could still piece everything together, how hard you work, and how much effort you put in to make things easier for Ayaka-san. It felt like I had only scratched the surface.''

  Yaori was at a loss for words. She didn't know what was the best thing to say right now, even if she tried to weigh her options, there weren't any to weigh. She thought he was done talking, and that he was waiting for a response, but that was when Raichi continued. He sighed deeply.

  ''It just made me realize… I've been aimless for so long, going along a route that I am entirely unfamiliar with. I have no motivation, no end goal. All I have is the need to find a solution to avoid trouble, unnecessary attention, and misunderstood ideas.''

  Raichi spoke as if he wasn't expecting a response, just iterating it. Expressing his thoughts because she had asked him to do so. He didn't expect any more pity, as he thought he had received far enough as is. Perhaps it was slightly belittling, but that was his truthful opinion. She said a few times, including just now, that he was free to confide in her if necessary, and even had been told directly that he wasn't a burden. However, this habit just came to him. Outside condescendence, which was the source, led to self-deprecation. He couldn't even tell apart real pity from mock pity and greeting anymore.

  ''I–I don't want you to worry even more about me, Yamada-san. You worry enough about yourself as is. Thats why… I want to do the same for you. I know you told me about how this household came to be just yours and Ayaka-san's, but just hearing you out doesn't feel adequate…''

  He expressed, then turned toward her with a look of concerned determination, asserting his gaze. Now– was when he was waiting for a response. Quite the contrary from before, his expression was filled with anticipation.

  Yaori's eyes softened as she met his uncertain yet awaiting gaze. She had to think about her next words carefully. Having come to know Raichi's fragile request for self-assurance when in such a state, she didn't want to say anything that would be considered unprompted. She had to come up with something, though. The air had already turned rather pensive. But there was some truth and relatability to Raichi's words, which she wanted to address. Eventually, she found the right set of words to say.

  She muttered with a low yet certain tone. ''Sato-kun… I don't think you realize how relieved I am to spill the beans regarding this to someone finally. Plus… I also think that we aren't so different from each other.''

  Raichi blinked, his eyes darting away momentarily. ''Wh-What do you mean?''

  She tilted her head downwards slightly, putting a finger on her chin. Her smile was ambiguous. ''I may be studying hard, and my grades may be excellent, which is why so many people look up to me in different ways, however… I don't know what to do with my life either. If you were to ask me who or what I wanted to be, then I wouldn't have an answer for you…''

  ''Wait… you don't know either, Yamada-san?''

  Raichi felt a slight pang of guilt rising within him for being a little presumptuous. The whole reason they had become so close was because he was the only non-assuming classmate to ever approach her, and it felt like a betrayal of it. Was the Acing Bookworm only acing and not succeeding the entire time?

  She shook her head, her bob gently falling over her shoulders. ''I don't. I study because that is what a student is supposed to do. I too have been wandering with no sense of direction. I just ended up faring better and having come prepared. I've been moving forward because I felt like I needed to.''

  For the first time in a while, her face was not easy to read. It was as they said, that a bookworm knew a bookworm best, and yet, this occasion ended up being an outlier. The fact that she didn't have as much drive as she showed to have was hard to believe for him.

  He stared at her, his lips parting slightly. ''But… you– you don't seem that way at all, even to me…''

  Yaori giggled lightly, her tone lacking a resemblance of amusement. ''Normally, it may seem that way, but it is far from the truth. When I'm not studying, all I do is read. This world we're in feels limited at times, so I resort to escaping from it, leaving my imagination to do the job. Apart from my family, I felt like I could never share this with anyone I know, ever. Until… now.''

  The last part echoed throughout the room, and in Raichi's mind. It was way heavier than everything else she just said. Until now, meant that he was now entrusted with this information. As a close friend of hers now, this was a secret Raichi swore to take to the grave, and he could feel something catching in his throat at the thought and change of topic. He still had doubts about how much he still deserved it. His hands rested awkwardly on his lap.

  ''Am I really as good as a friend you think I am…?'' He muttered. ''What you're giving me is not something I can easily give back…''

  ''...You silly,'' Yaori's brow furrowed, exasperated. She let out a deep sigh, slightly leaning closer to him. ''Relationships such as friendships aren't just an exchange, y'know… it takes a lot to earn someone's true trust.''

  ''But… someone could have just become your friend on a whim, no?''

  ''They tried to. And they have. But a true friend is someone you can confide your secrets and everything else in.'' She said with a serious tone. ''There comes a point where… you see their true colors. Like you've seen plenty of times…''

  Raichi's eyes widened briefly as he came to a realization. ''You mean… the way they act when you aren't with them?''

  Yaori nodded, as she locked her gaze with him, catching Raichi off guard.

  ''Exactly. Trust is to be cherished. And Sato-kun…'' She put her clenched fists in front of her chest. ''You earned mine instantly, by putting your trust in someone who you didn't even know whether they deserved it. When I finally figured it out, that– was when I had the urge to protect the trust you've placed in me. I may be inexperienced when it comes to these types of things, but my heart just told me it was the right thing to do.''

  He attentively listened to her as she finished her confession, striking him in such a deep way he hadn't expected. He couldn't even respond for a moment, instead looking out the window.

  The rain had stopped its descent.

  Raichi could almost feel Ayaka's smile radiating from two rooms behind the walls. But something in him just put that supposed smile on his lips, too. He didn't know how to appreciate Yaori's words, but he knew how priceless it was. After all, a bookworm knows a bookworm best, the Acing Bookworm once said.

  ''Would you just look at us, we were talking about dreams, but we then got right back to talking about such things.'' He said as if he wanted to say it to himself, yet he spoke in a quiet voice that Yaori could hear easily. ''Even still, our conversation confirmed to me that we both are still trying to figure things out as we go, aren't we?''

  Yaori tilted her head, smiling faintly, holding the book on her chest. ''I guess so… but, it does make things seem less scary, right?''

  Raichi turned toward her, a tentative smile forming on his own. ''...Yeah.''

  Speaking of a certain big sister, Raichi thought Ayaka must have realized the rain had stopped by now. Perhaps she hadn't. Or she was simply waiting a little longer. He couldn't know, and he was now impatiently waiting as if he was waiting for the school bell. Frankly, he was too hanging around to start a conversation, knowing it wouldn't be seen through to the end.

  Speak of the devil… he heard a rather loud knock on the door, then another, then another.

  ''Come in already!'' Yaori shouted bluntly. ''You never knock on the door, anyway…''

  ''I heard that!'' Ayaka said behind the door before she slid it open. ''As much as I hate to interrupt your dear conversation, the rain has stopped and it is getting late.''

  ''Yeah yeah, we know that, Nee-san…''

  Yaori's words trailed off to a much impish laugh coming off from Ayaka. As much as she enjoyed teasing her beloved sister, she didn't mind making use of Raichi's bashful reactions. His avoiding eye contact with a faint blush on his cheeks was like a much-needed supplement that sought to satisfy her urge to tease. He could imagine Ayaka licking her lips every time she came across such an opportunity.

  Raichi packed up his bag, put on his jacket, and scratched his back awkwardly as the two Yamada sisters eagerly watched him. It was slightly uncomfortable seeing two different expressions looking at him. One of curious expectation, and another puckish grin.

  ''Well– I guess I'll be on my way then.''

  ''Alright, I'll come with you to the door,'' Ayaka said as she blatantly leered at Yaori. ''I hope you have your umbrella.''

  ''I–I do.''

  As Raichi was putting his shoes on in the genkan, he could see the absence of Yaori. When he glanced toward the hallway, her door was closed. She was inside her room and hadn't come to say goodbye. The silence was sorta deafening.

  As he was tying his shoes, he kept his movements slow and deliberate, that lingering hope for Yaori to show up keeping him grounded.

  Ayaka, leaning casually against the wall, smiled playfully. She let out a small giggle as if knowing that something was going to happen.

  Raichi was eventually done, and there was no reason to prolong his exit any further. He cleared his throat, bowing respectfully.

  ''T-Thanks for having me, Ayaka-san. Your cooking was absol—''

  Before he could finish, however, the sliding sound coming from Yaori's door caught the words in his throat. Yaori had emerged.

  She was bundled in a scarlet red coat, her hands peeking themselves out to set her navy blue scarf in place, snugly covered in gloves.

  ''Y–Yamada-san…?''

  "I'm walking you back, Sato-kun." She said this rather plainly, as if this were routine.

  This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

  Raichi blinked for a second or two, then immediately flailed his hands in dismissal. His mind scrambled to her words on instinct. ''Y-Y-Yamada-san, you don't really have to—''

  ''It's not up for debate, I'm doing this on my own will.''

  She kept her gaze focused on her scarf, making her way down the hallway.

  Ayaka's knowing grin grew wider, she tilted her head. Raichi was perplexed as she waited for the Yamada sisters to come to an agreement.

  ''My my, Yaori-chan. Playing caretaker in the middle of the night for Sato-kun?''

  Yaori's confident and calm expression suddenly flickered in embarrassment. Her gaze darted around to the detestably sly grin on Ayaka's face, and Raichi's fidgeting. Her cheeks tinged an intense pink.

  ''I-Its nothing! Not only is it late– but it has begun raining again! I'm not letting him walk alone.''

  Ayaka toned her teasing down, now seemingly satisfied with the pink dust on Yaori's face. Perhaps she had gotten her fill of teasing. However, her tone didn't waver.

  ''Look at you being so dependable. Besides, you do owe him for carrying half our groceries…''

  Ayaka thoughtfully put her hand on her chin, but was caught off guard by Yaori's bluntness. She waltzed right through, grabbing Raichi by the arm and muttering,

  ''Let's go, Sato-kun.''

  ''Ow– ow, Y-Yamada-sann!''

  The door slid shut with a thud, muffling Ayaka's laughter behind it. She was clearly intent on ending the conversation then and there, so she swiftly took Raichi out of there.

  Raichi followed rather obediently, his mind still reeling. Before he knew it, they had already left the gates of the Yamada household.

  As they stepped into the damp evening, Yaori stood slightly further ahead, waiting for Raichi to catch up, her back turned towards him. He couldn't make out her expression from where he stood, although he could guess that she was pouting, judging from her puffed-up cheeks. He felt a cold, chill raindrop slowly make its way down his back, shivering momentarily. He slowly reached out for his bag.

  Before opening his umbrella, he shook off some excess stray droplets, popping it open. Yaori wasn't wrong about the rain picking up again. It was soft for now, but definitely persistent.

  Yaori abruptly turned back around at the woosh sound of the popping sound of the umbrella. Seeing her startled, Raichi put on an easygoing smile.

  ''Shall we…?''

  Yaori hesitated before responding, ''Um– I may or may not have forgotten my umbrella in a rush,'' She fidgeted with the ends of her scarf, bashfully averting her gaze. ''I-I hope you don't mind sharing yours with me…''

  ''You– you… forgot it?''

  Suddenly, Raichi thought back to when he was just about to leave Yaori's room moments ago. Despite telling him 'Don't forget your umbrella', Ayaka had leered at her sister. He hadn't understood what she meant, but seeing Yaori's timid reaction, it all just clicked.

  Ayaka was likely the reason why Yaori had decided to come with. And perhaps it was a sign for her to forget to bring an umbrella deliberately.

  Though the latter might sound a little conceited for him, it made sense considering Ayaka's character. She didn't mind teasing her little sister to spend time with him.

  Assuming that's how it went, Raichi decided to feign ignorance, as if he had no idea. He didn't know how he felt about Ayaka's spot-on nudging, but it was something he didn't mind.

  ''T-That should be fine, although mine is a little small for me, just so you know.''

  ''H-Hey, I have no right to complain…'' Yaori put her hands behind her back, biting her lip. ''I mean, I could go fetch mine right about now, but… I strangely don't want to.''

  ''Uh–''

  Raichi's cheeks twinged with pink as she flat-out confirmed his assumption. Curiously, she was rather candid. He could feel something catching in his throat again. His brows furrowed with bashfulness, and his umbrella slightly trembled because of his hand.

  ''Then– then move to my right,'' He softly requested, flattening his grip on the umbrella handle. ''It should be a little easier for me to hold it this way.''

  ''...Your right? Why right specifically?'' She echoed, visibly puzzled.

  ''B-Because I'm right-handed, silly… it would be a little smoother.'' He scratched his cheek, smiling sheepishly.

  ''Oh– that… makes sense… alright then,'' She said, taking a few hesitant steps closer.

  Their shoulders brushed as Yaori took her place next to him, both feeling a jolt course through them. Especially Raichi, who was rather sensitive. Though… that didn't seem to matter when being comforted.

  Their walking eventually turned in sync as they made some distance, Raichi adjusted his grip many times before concluding on something he deemed to be comfortable for him, and Yaori. Although, it brought his hair closer to the ribs of the small umbrella. The ribs snagged slightly on the tips of his slightly moist hair, which caught Yaori's attention.

  Yaori looked up at him, stifling a giggle with her hand. ''You really are a little tall for this umbrella, aren't you, Sato-kun?''

  ''Ehh? Is– is that supposed to be a compliment?'' Raichi said, a little bemused. ''I–I guess I am, maybe a little…''

  ''A-As much as I like complimenting you when needed, Sato-kun, I'll have you know I was teasing!'' She scoffed.

  Strangely, she found her gaze lingering longer than she thought it would. Her expression softened, and she was looking at him more than necessary. Her eyes glistened momentarily.

  He's so awkward when it comes to things like this…

  She couldn't help but keep looking at his dampened hair, getting stuck on the ribs of the umbrella. Raichi was too occupied with his own ordeal of awkwardness and kept his gaze fixated dead ahead, so she was free to… indulge herself in looking, so to speak.

  Right now, this is… strangely endearing. But just look at him…!

  Yaori couldn't see herself doing this any longer, so she decided to open some sort of topic to break the ice and get herself out of her small trance.

  ''D-Don't strain yourself too much…'' She murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. ''Getting a little soaked won't be too much harm, y'know.''

  Raichi's face warmed at her words, he momentarily met her gaze but quickly darted away. He couldn't find the courage to respond, so he resorted back to what he was doing, occasionally stepping in small water puddles to avoid breaking their current position.

  ''Oh…?'' She curiously looked up at him again, turning away as she smiled to herself. The rhythmic sounds of rainfall on the umbrella slowly muffled to a comfortable walk that felt longer than usual. Raichi couldn't bother breaking the ice, knowing he'd mess up somewhere along the way. The current mood in the air was more than satisfactory, as when he glanced at her from the corner of his eye, he could see a content, lighthearted smile on Yaori's face.

  The rain drumming on the umbrella continued as they approached the street corner, their place of departure. Despite both having hesitant silence, it didn't show. They slowed down and eventually halted. He nodded gratefully.

  ''Thank you for walking me back, Yamada-san,'' He slowly made some distance between himself and Yaori, leaving the umbrella in her hands. ''Don't forget this, though,''

  Yaori blinked in confusion, glancing back and forth between him and the umbrella handle she now held tightly in her hands. When her gaze eventually landed on Raichi, the downpour had already dampened his hair.

  ''S-Sato-kun, what are you doing you silly? You're getting soaked—! You know I can't hold this for the two of us…''

  Raichi gave her a crooked grin, brushing a strand of his wet hair away from his face.

  ''You don't need to. My house is a stone's throw away, y'know? You, on the other hand… have to walk the same path again.''

  ''But—'' She stumbled on her words, her brows furrowing as she waved her fists in denial. ''This doesn't make any sense! What if it rains tomorrow morning, ever thought of that!?''

  Raichi flinched in realization, but he quickly brushed it off despite not fully thinking it through.

  "I— okay sure, I forgot about that! But how else are you gonna get back without drowning!?"

  She opened her mouth, unable to utter any argument. All she could do was stare awkwardly as the rain continued its beading on Raichi. Despite coming off a little passive-aggressive, Yaori could sense the kindness behind his gesture. She appreciated it, and that combined with his playfulness left her confused on how to respond.

  "I'll manage, Yamada-san. There is no need to overthink things,'' He took another step back, now making the gap between them noticeable. ''As I told you, my house is literally right there.''

  ''B-But– You're the one overthinking things by telling me that I would 'drown', dangit!''

  She puffed up her cheeks, putting her arms together in exasperation. It seems she wouldn't budge.

  ''That also doesn't mean you should just give me your umbrella like that, either!''

  Yaori protested, but her voice didn't reach him, as they could hear hurried steps coming from behind Yaori. Someone was approaching, and he was very recognizable indeed.

  His hair glimmered once more, and his easily identifiable green umbrella caught Raichi's gaze. The closer he got, the easier the splashes of the small puddles were to hear. He called out to them,

  ''Oi! What are you doin' out in the rain? And– and Yamada-san?!''

  Raichi could already see him, but Yaori turned her head to see the one and only, the blond legend himself, Hiroshi Kimura.

  ''K-Kimura-kun?'' She asked, surprised by his sudden appearance.

  ''Didn't expect to see you two out at this hour, and together, too,'' He said as he jogged up to them, giving the soaked Raichi a glaring side-eye. ''Wh-What are you doing? A noble sacrifice?''

  ''H-Huh?'' Raichi said, brushing off Hiroshi's pestering. Before he could continue, however, Yaori cut in.

  ''K-Kimura-kun! Sato-kun is trying to send me off with his umbrella, but,''

  Hiroshi interrupted her with a knowing smile, giggling under his umbrella. ''Heh, that sounds just like him. He's always been so stubborn when it comes to this kind of stuff.''

  He turned over to Raichi with a cunning smile, which Raichi simply shrugged off.

  Yaori looked bewildered as her gaze wandered over from Hiroshi's remark and then back to Raichi, her face turning red at the realization that Hiroshi wasn't on her side. This shouldn't have been too surprising, considering Hiroshi knew Raichi in and out. Although it was now up to debate as to which one of his friends knew more about him.

  ''Ehh? You aren't going to do something about him?'' She yelped out, pouting. ''I really don't think—''

  ''Don't worry about him, Yamada-san,'' Hiroshi reassured, raising a thumb. ''I'll make sure he gets home in one piece. I've lost count of how many times I had to do it, anyway.''

  Yaori hesitated as her gaze flickered between the two of them. The rain kept up its pitter-patter as she found it harder to refuse.

  Suddenly, she scoffed, getting slightly frustrated. Her grip on the umbrella tightened.

  ''Tch! F-Fine, just get under Kimura-kun's umbrella already, you idiot…''

  Yaori playfully loudened her steps like a hoofing horse, likely venting out her frustration on the ground.

  She stopped a few steps away, under the small streetlight. As the light lit up their surroundings, Raichi could see her red ears.

  As soon as he realized it, he panickedly looked over to Hiroshi, who was grinning from ear to ear.

  When their eyes met, he arched his eyebrows up and down suggestively.

  He could feel the different types of embarrassment he was feeling clashing against one another.

  Without looking back, Yaori shouted exasperatedly,

  ''I can tell you still haven't gotten under his umbrella, Sato-kun!''

  ''Okay okay, I heard you the first time, Yamada-san…''

  ''...Then… see you tomorrow,''

  She stood there, not moving an inch. Raichi was visibly embarrassed, and he could tell she was too. He hesitated, but eventually found the right words.

  ''S-See you tomorrow,''

  She eventually walked out of sight as she turned the corner, now leaving the two childhood friends all alone.

  He slowly approached Hiroshi in interval, bashful steps, eventually finding his place under the umbrella. He could feel the ideas that Hiroshi was brainstorming through. Despite knowing the conclusions he would come to weren't all that far off, he didn't want to hear them in his face.

  Hiroshi shook his head with his smirk from earlier. ''Shall we take our time, dude? I have lots to say after this scene I just got to witness.''

  ''Shut up,''

  ''Even if Ayaka-chan doesn't exactly share the whole details with me, I'll gladly share this scene in its entirety with her. She'll be indebted to me, hehe!''

  ''Ugh…''

  Raichi tried to steer away from Hiroshi's overwhelming personality and grin but found himself being questioned as they slowly walked through to the end of his street. But to give it to him, he did agree to let Hiroshi become his 'social wingman'. He had explicitly stated that his business better not include anything romance, yet he had broken that rule before, so it inherently didn't matter.

  ''You're something else, man,'' He poked him teasingly on the shoulder, making strange sounds. ''Since when was Yamada-san so… I-I don't even know how to describe the way she's acting! Did she become this close to you overnight, dude!?''

  ''...I don't know.''

  ''Sounds to me like you know, but won't tell me. That's okay, but let me ask…'' He promptly smacked him on the shoulder. ''Man, she sounds nothing like the way she acts at school. What kind of deep-rooted skill do you have to see right through someone's formalities?''

  ''I-I… have immense trust, that's what I have.''

  Hiroshi's eyes widened, and he seemed rather impressed. He looked at him meaningfully, to which Raichi didn't respond.

  ''I see. Y'know, Raichi-kun, you're quite the flirt. That exchange you had with her just now speaks volumes.''

  ''S–Shut up!''

  Raichi raised his hand and put it against Hiroshi's mouth. His words were muffled by his hand as they approached the door.

  Once he let go, Hiroshi's smile still lingered.

  ''Mom, I'm home…'' He shouted, a little exhausted.

  Emiko was once again busy cleaning. That was the kind of person she was, for lack of a better word, rather rigorous when it came to how clean the house was. She would dust off the shelves almost every day, and everything else in between. His father would help regularly, but sometimes he preferred watching TV. He was someone that Raichi would often keep away from his close friends, as he was very benignant. Especially to… Hiroshi, who he treated him like his second son who shared his common interest in sports.

  From somewhere deeper in the house, Emiko called back. ''Welcome back, Raichi dear! Try not to track any water anywhere, would you?''

  ''Okay!'' Raichi laughed faintly. ''Of course, not like I wasn't expecting this…''

  He said as he stepped out of his wet shoes and touched the dry floor of the genkan. The smell of citrus coming off the cleaning products was obvious. Despite sounding rather exasperated, he appreciated it more than he let on.

  Behind him, Hiroshi didn't move an inch as he adjusted his umbrella. ''Sadly, I will not be sticking around, buddy.''

  Raichi turned around, ''You sure? The rain's still coming down pretty hard.''

  Hiroshi grinned, shrugging. ''I have an umbrella, unlike you. Not to mention, I went out intending to go to the grocery store to fetch a few things for me and my family.''

  Raichi gave a small chuckle, convinced. ''Fair enough. I do appreciate you coming all this way for me.''

  ''Anytime. Then I'll see you later, bye!'' He waved, opening the door and stepping back in the rain. He opened his umbrella wide. ''By the way, I will call you later!''

  ''...What?''

  Bam! The door closed tightly behind him. He heard a blurred, 'So sorry!' coming from behind the wall. He jumped momentarily and looked back toward the corridor anxiously, trying to confirm whether his mother had heard that loud sound.

  Raichi put his hand out, facepalming.

  You idiot!

  When he looked out the window, Hiroshi had already disappeared down the street, appearing to be panicking. Walking away at a steady pace like some sort of cartoon character.

  After he was certain of his mother's unawareness, he shut the curtain behind him.

  Emiko finally appeared, a duster in one hand. When her eyes landed on him, a hint of motherly concern showed itself. ''R-Raichi dear! You're soaked! What did I give you your umbrella for?''

  ''S-Sorry, Mom— I lent it to a friend,'' He replied nonchalantly, scratching his slightly damp hair. ''I'll– Uh, walk with friends tomorrow morning, or something…''

  I will not regret this decision!

  He thought. However, his face let on his quiet determination.

  Emiko's brows arched slightly.

  ''That is kind of you… just like how I've taught you, look at you being such a gentleman.''

  ''G-Gentleman?'' He blinked in confusion, the vivid innocence on his face. ''What— What do you mean?''

  She opened her mouth, but no words came out except for a light glee. Perhaps she didn't intend to press further.''...Forget it. Do take a shower before you wet the place, m'kay?''

  ''O-Okay…''

  He said as he headed off to prepare for a well-deserved shower. He had a lot of things on his mind. Every day, he got to learn more about Yaori, and some of the things he learned led to more questions than answers.

  However, whether those questions or answers were intended for Yaori or himself was another important question to observe.

  He hated leaving such thoughts for the shower, but it was one of the few places he could have some alone time.

  ''Ahh… finally…''

  Raichi mumbled as he tiptoed his feet under the water veil, trudging his way into the porcelain bathtub. Once he laid down properly, the warm water reached and cascaded to his shoulders.

  The room was already rather steamy, and he found their new bathroom quite comfortable. It was small, modest yet cozy. He let out a drawn-out sigh.

  Frowning subtly, he looked down at his body. Overall, he could describe himself as someone scrawny.

  His arms were like noodles, and his legs were like chopsticks. Not to mention, he had some height to him, which only made these facts stand out more.

  He never bothered to 'look good', so to speak, but it wasn't to the point he'd be ignoring his looks. Even still, he had been avoiding ever giving a thought to the shape of his general body.

  Maybe it was because he just doesn't eat enough or simply satisfies his nutritional needs. There were plenty of times when he ate a whole load of food, like earlier today.

  ''Why am I still like this?'' He said displeasingly.

  He frankly hadn't realized how much time he spent sitting in the water, just contemplating. But in the end, he had come to a conclusion.

  Raichi wanted to stand tall, and confidently among his peers. Not just for himself, but to match what the rumours now set him out to be; someone who had caught The Acing Bookworm's gaze, and stood by her.

  Earlier today, Yaori's confession revealed her devotion, and how it now bore fruit.

  Her desire to protect him had to be mirrored by a devotion of the same core. And perhaps a way to do that, is to make himself into a person who he thinks is truly worthy of it.

  After today, he knew they didn't necessarily need to be even by showing gratitude each time, but this was something he'd come to figure out on his own, and in the shower of all places.

  He would improve himself until he thought it was just enough.

  "Okay! It's decided!"

  He proclaimed, inside and surrounded by the steam. When he realized, an awkward silence hit him. He really was talking to himself in the bathroom, and he didn't want to be overheard by his mother.

  "M-Maybe it's about time I left the bath…"

  He said, grabbing the tub by the edges and getting back up.

  ''Now that that's done…'' He said as he looked at himself in the bathroom mirror, holding the towel over his head.

  He rubbed the towel against his damp hair before stepping out of the bathroom. Once his hair was dry enough, he put the towel over the back of his sleeves.

  Grabbing the change of clothing he set in place earlier, he changed into fresh, loose clothes. He stretched as he let out a content sigh. He could still hear the pitter-patter of the rain coming through the window.

  Man, what a day… I've gone through so much in a matter of hours. Should I be pleased, or disheartened at this point?

  When Raichi thought about it, this day had been comparable to a balanced weighing scale.

  On one hand, he had been at the center of scorn, on the verge of fainting.

  On the other hand, he had spent such a pleasant day at the Yamada household, that this would be just etched in his memory forever after.

  Although, for both scenarios, it was highly plausible that he wouldn't forget either of them.

  However, there was something in common. They both would be motivation. All of this would drive him to be better, and stronger. Not just for Yaori's sake, but for his own, too.

  For tonight, enough had happened as is, so, he grabbed his phone from the nightstand and hopped on his bed.

  He slightly covered himself with his blanket, as the room now felt colder fresh out of the bath. He would simply scroll on his phone for a little while as he got sleepier.

  The phone lit up, and almost as if on cue, the first thing he saw was a notification of someone's message, Hiroshi.

  「Yo, I told you I'd say something later. Now, you'd better spill the beans.」

  It read.

  Spill the beans…? What does he even want me to tell him? Ohh.

  At the realization, Raichi groaned softly. He smiled hesitantly. He tapped the notification, and the chat between him and Hiroshi popped up on the screen.

  He was reluctant to say anything, but he had already left him on read now, so it'd be unwise to stay silent.

  He found the courage, and he clicked only a few times. And finally, he came up with,

  「No.」

  It was perfect. Such a miraculous, immaculate response had never surfaced the earth before.

  He felt proud, raising his fist in celebration. But his celebration was cut short. He lowered his head to another message sound.

  「Don't make me call you. I was originally going to call you as I had said but thought I shouldn't bother you with it. Now I feel like regretting that.」

  Raichi started typing out his message, but the interface closed. Instead, what showed itself on his screen was the circular photo of Hiroshi looking at the camera, hilariously wall-eyed.

  His face was very up-close, and he had his tongue out. For short, he was clowning out.

  The photo looked absolutely hysterical. Raichi had completely forgotten that, was Hiroshi's profile picture.

  He tried to suppress his giggle, covering his mouth with his hand. But eventually, he gave in, his laughing turning into a barking chortle.

  Clearing his throat, he stopped his laughter, responding to the call.

  「Hi.」

  「Yo, why are you acting so weird? You're so unenthusiastic.」

  There was a brief silence, and Raichi's disappointment showed on his face. He looked at Hiroshi, blinking rapidly. Hiroshi was looking at him, expecting a response.

  「Seriously?」

  「Wh-What? Do I have something on my face?」

  「…Maybe you do.」

  Hiroshi smirked impishly, putting a hand on his chin. He raised his other hand on the screen, wagging his finger side to side.

  「For context, I was just joking! Anyway, fill me in, I beg of you!」

  「Fill you in… what exactly?」

  「You know damn well what I am talking about, dude!」

  「Do you really have to know?!」

  「Of course I do, I was your social wingman, wasn't I?」

  Raichi tried his best to not bring up the topic, but considering that Hiroshi and Ayaka seemed to be acquainted, there was no escaping his grasp.

  Worst of all, Ayaka had even hinted at a few things to Hiroshi, at least according to what he said.

  There really was no convincing him to back down. Raichi wasn't sure, but perhaps he was content with the current social life he had, but he didn't want to admit it.

  But to Hiroshi, it likely didn't even matter until he decided so. His tone was mock-betrayed, and even though he was joking, it sounded like he truly meant it.

  How do I even tell him? So much happened today that I can't even begin to put it into words. I'll try my best to spill as little as possible.

  「So… after we parted ways at school, we– uh, went to the park as we originally planned…」

  「Yes, I'm listening…」

  「And, we couldn't visit the park due to Yamada-san having to go shopping for dinner. I proposed that I should come along.」

  「Ooh, was this gold?」

  「S-Shut up! Anyway, when we were there… Yamada-san asked if– if I would like to come over for dinner…」

  「WHAATT? Is– is that why Ayaka-chan was so directly involved in this?! Dangit! I missed out on that much!? Hell yeah!」

  「Why are you so over the moon for this?」

  Hiroshi let go of the phone, likely running around in his room briefly as his camera showed nothing but pitch black. He even muted himself. So, god knows what he muttered in that brief moment.

  Raichi didn't appreciate him just running off on his own when he was talking. He had also forgotten to keep things undetailed, as if he enjoyed telling all of this to him.

  Sooner or later, Hiroshi returned, bringing the camera up to his face. His grin was so wide that it could reach the ends of the earth and back. It was frankly disturbing.

  「Ugh– could you– could you not do that?」

  Hiroshi blinked, tilting his head like a puppy.

  「What, is there something on my face again?」

  「…I take it back, there is definitely something on your face.」

  「Utter pride, that is! Pride in the mantle I have taken! Look at you, all I had to do was set the sails, and the rest soon followed—」

  「Don't make me close this call then and there, please.」

  「Alright, alright…」

  Calming down the beating excitement within Hiroshi was a near-impossible task to accomplish, and Raichi didn't want to bother with it. But even he knew Hiroshi wasn't done there.

  He expected the upcoming question from a mile away, already having an explanation. This is where he would draw the line on the details.

  「I'm sorry if I am making you uncomfortable, 'kay? But as your wingman, I wish the best for you. And that is why I'd like to know what happened next! How come you two came back with only your umbrella?」

  Before proceeding, Raichi let out a sigh.

  「I knew you'd say that. Before I tell you, you should probably not act on instinct. But I think it was pretty much Ayaka-san's doing.」

  「A–Ayaka-chan?」

  「Yeah. I don't know exactly how, but I suspect that it was her doing, anyway.」

  「I-I see… and how did you come to that conclusion?」

  「Well, just a few observations, that's all.」

  「Hmm… is that so?」

  Hiroshi turned on his thinking mode, likely finding his duo wingman partnership to be in some jeopardy. From Hiroshi's perspective, it was bound to cause some misunderstandings. Raichi frankly didn't care all that much, but one thing he'd like was to be kept out of it.

  After all, he needn't be involved in all this. He wanted to clarify whatever idea Hiroshi might have or be onto.

  「B-By the way, I'd rather you not tell Ayaka-san I was aware of that.」

  「I wasn't planning to. My conversations with you are separate. They will not interfere with or affect whatever I might discuss with Ayaka-chan.」

  「Phew. Thank you.」

  Raichi looked blankly at the lens for a few seconds, before blinking in confusion. He hadn't even realized it before. But speaking of which, since when were there two matchmakers? Was Ayaka that interested in expanding his world? Hiroshi was his 'social wingman' after all, or whatever that might mean. But, Raichi trusted Hiroshi.

  The agreement specifically stated that he wouldn't go around doing anything that might pass the limit of romance. To give it to him though, the term 'social wingman' wasn't too certain.

  It meant that he could cut a few corners, or abuse loopholes, all because of its tricky wording. Knowing Hiroshi, he'd always do anything he set eyes out to do.

  「Wait a second, Hiroshi-kun… I thought you were my only 'social wingman'. I never bothered to ask, but how and when did you two begin talking?」

  「Oh. She– uh, asked me why I tricked you and her to meet up after that day. And I explained everything we agreed upon to her, and then some. She insisted that she assisted however she could. I couldn't turn her offer down.」

  「Since when you could just add people to the collaboration like this? This was an agreement between you and me, was it not?」

  「Hey, in order to accomplish our task, I am free to use any method necessary, right? And if that means getting a partner or two to help me out, then I'll gladly take that step. I apologize if I made you a little frustrated, but it is what it is…」

  「Th-Thats not the issue… but guess I'll just have to tolerate it, huh?」

  「Yeah?? You'll have to. Also, don't forget you have a few secrets of your own, too!」

  「S-Secrets… of my own? What do you mean?」

  「Forget it. I–I have to go. I am sorry for calling you suddenly. See you later, okay?」

  「Um– okay… catch you later then.」

  With that, the call met a sudden, brief end. Raichi was left staring at the screen, visibly befuddled after Hiroshi's mention of secrets.

  He inquired for an explanation last second, but it seemed to be in vain when Hiroshi excused himself from the call.

  It was as if he was reluctant to talk any further about this topic, preferring to keep it from being disclosed.

  If he were to confront him about this again, he'd likely steer away from talking about it. So, all he could do now was simply shrug it off.

  Raichi locked his phone, placing it on the nightstand beside him. His alarm was already set, so if he was to fall asleep now, it wouldn't be of any harm.

  He did have a big day ahead of him, rather, a big morning. He got up again to close the lights.

  Raichi had forgotten to remind Hiroshi to walk together tomorrow morning, however. He was so distracted from Hiroshi's shenanigans, that it completely slipped his mind. He didn't mind walking alone, but in this case, he would have to. It could rain, and it was very likely to.

  But, he was pretty sleepy, so he decided to postpone the reminder to tomorrow morning. He'd tell Hiroshi in the morning anyhow.

  He got all comfortable in his bed, messing around with the blanket as he turned the other way.

  Hugging the excessive length of the blanket tightly, he fell asleep. He expected another bright new day, bright new days which he was slowly getting used to, as the days got more and more enjoyable from here on out.