"Akira, what's wrong?"
Hearing this, Akira withdrew his gaze from the distance and saw Shouko looking at him in confusion. He shook his head.
"It's nothing."
He then changed the subject:
"Have you decided where you want to start looking?"
"Let's just look around first. Didn't Nanase-sensei say the club recruitment lasts for a week?" Ayumi interjected.
"Exactly, there's no rush anyway," Shouko nodded, agreeing.
Takagi and Nishikata also had no objections, and Akira had even fewer.
The group began to wander aimlessly through the club recruitment area. Wherever something interesting happened, Ayumi would drag them over to join the fun.
In the meantime, Akira glanced several times toward the "Far East Magical Napping Society of Summer" club, quietly harboring a small purpose in his heart—
That was to see if the male and female protagonists from the second year had any significant changes in appearance.
If he wasn't mistaken, this should be the period right after the start of their second year of high school. Otherwise, Takanashi Rikka would have already graduated.
But he didn't see Takanashi Rikka or Togashi Yuuta appear until they left. Only those two members had been at the booth from beginning to end.
Still, it didn't matter. There would be opportunities to meet them in the coming days, and even if not, he'd surely encounter them within the next two years.
Anyway, he just wanted to take a look. As for personally seeking them out or joining their club?
...
He could only say he wasn't that bored. Back when he'd watched the anime, he had only seen the first season—and even then, at double speed.
They were probably in the second season's timeframe now, and he didn't want to participate or interfere.
Unless a system suddenly popped up and rewarded him with skills like fire-breathing or flight—or maybe a Spark Lens—then he might consider it.
"See you tomorrow, everyone."
"See you tomorrow."
"Bye-bye."
The few of them parted ways at the intersection.
"Akira, do you think we should join the Art Club in high school...?" Shouko took his hand again and asked hesitantly.
"It's up to you." After thinking it over, he decided not to interfere with her choice.
"But there are still so many illustrations to draw... I'm afraid I won't have time for club activities even if I join..."
"..." Akira felt a bit speechless.
Hearing her say that made him feel like a black-hearted boss squeezing an overworked employee.
He gently squeezed her hand.
"Those illustrations aren't needed immediately. The first volume hasn't even been released yet, so why rush? If nothing unexpected happens with the second volume, printing won't start for at least three or four months."
Then, under her confused gaze, he raised his other hand and pinched her soft cheek:
"Don't push yourself too hard, Shouko. You still have plenty of time."
Shouko slapped away his "salty pig hand" and bumped him with her head.
"It's over a dozen, not a few."
"Then do you want me to help you?"
"No, your drawings are too ugly. Even Kazama said they're ugly."
After saying that, Shouko let go of his hand and dashed forward, afraid he'd tease her.
But after a few steps and realizing he wasn't chasing, she quickly returned to his side.
"Akira, why aren't you chasing me?"
"Childish..."
The word had barely left his mouth before a pair of teeth marks appeared on his arm.
When he looked at her, only the back of her head faced him, accompanied by a light hum.
The twilight blended the shadows of boy and girl into a honey-colored glow.
As the girl poked the boy's shoulder with a cherry blossom branch, the setting sun dyed her hair golden-brown. The boy, dodging, left a faint scent of mint in the air.
His fingertip, hovering as if to flick her forehead, finally plucked a half-fallen cherry blossom from her hair instead.
"Auntie, I'm back!"
"I'm home."
After changing shoes and stepping inside, they found a guest in the living room. Shouko, lively moments ago, instantly became reserved.
Miyamura Shizuka introduced the woman seated across from her:
"This is our new neighbor who just moved in, Uzaki Tsuki. Come greet Auntie Uzaki."
Both Akira and Shouko's eyes instinctively fell on her… capital, though the steadfast Akira quickly averted his gaze before anyone noticed. He nudged Shouko lightly, reminding her not to stare too long.
"Auntie Uzaki." ×2
They politely greeted her while also observing other details. Uzaki's narrowed eyes, paired with her gentle demeanor, felt completely different from Shimada Ikki's sly look. She radiated a warm, approachable aura.
Perhaps it was her youthful appearance combined with her "dangerous" hairstyle that gave him this impression.
After some small talk, Akira took Shouko upstairs, leaving the living room for his mother and Uzaki to continue chatting.
"Pervert Akira..." Shouko muttered under her breath as she set down her schoolbag.
"?? What did I do?" Akira, though guessing what she meant, denied it outright.
"Your eyes looked like they wanted to stick to Auntie Uzaki!"
He walked up and pulled her cheeks, puffed adorably on both sides.
"Are you sure you're not talking about yourself? If I hadn't reminded you, you wouldn't have realized you were staring too!"
It was the truth—he'd only glanced once, nothing more. He insisted he had no taste for being a thief (a man coveting others' wives or girlfriends).
Maybe... probably... not.
"I was observing Auntie Uzaki's hairstyle, wondering if I should try it too!" Shouko shot back stubbornly.
"That hairstyle is too dangerous. You can't pull it off."
"Dangerous? What's dangerous about it?" she asked, confused.
"Nothing, I was just talking nonsense. But trust me, you can't pull it off."
The conversation drifted to hairstyles, successfully diverting from Auntie Uzaki's other assets.
Later, seeing it was late, Shouko said goodbye and went home to help Granny Nishimiya with dinner.
Akira went downstairs, unsurprised to find Uzaki had already left. She must have only stopped by to chat briefly with his mom.
Afterward, he offered to help in the kitchen but was shooed away by Shizuka with:
"Go somewhere cool and stay there."
Resigned, he returned to the living room to watch TV until Daiki came home, and then dinner finally began.
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