We stopped at a small rest area near the escalator—just a couple of benches, a vending machine humming quietly, and the faint echo of mall chatter.
Hana sat down first, lowering herself carefully like her mind was somewhere else.
Maybe it was.
She'd been oddly quiet the last few minutes.
I tilted my head.
"You okay?"
She nodded, eyes still on the floor.
"…Just a little tired. Sorry."
"You don't have to apologize for that."
She didn't respond, but her shoulders loosened a bit.
I stood and turned toward the vending machine.
"You want water?"
There was a tiny pause before she answered.
"…Yes, please."
Her voice was softer than usual—careful, almost.
I bought two bottles and sat beside her again.
"Here."
I reached out just as she reached up.
Our fingers brushed—light, warm, sudden.
Her breath caught.
She jerked her hand back like she'd touched something hot.
"Ah— s-sorry!"
Her voice came out small, startled.
"I didn't— I mean, I wasn't—"
I blinked.
"It's just water, Hana."
"…R-right."
She accepted the bottle with both hands this time, avoiding touching mine at all costs.
Her ears were turning red again, creeping to her cheeks.
She took a sip, trying to regain composure.
Trying really hard.
I didn't comment—she'd only get more flustered.
After a moment, she placed the bottle on her lap and exhaled softly.
"I'm… okay now. Just… surprised."
"By what?"
"…Nothing," she whispered quickly, eyes darting away.
Her calm facade was cracking around the edges—the little tremble in her voice, the way she kept brushing her hair behind her ear even though it wasn't in the way.
She was trying so hard to act composed.
"Hana," I said gently. "Relax. We're just taking a break."
She nodded—slow, controlled.
"…I know. I'm calm."
A tiny pause.
"…Mostly."
I smiled a little.
"That's already impressive."
She let out a soft, breathy laugh—shy, but real.
"…Don't tease me."
"I wasn't."
"You were," she whispered, eyes narrowing in quiet embarrassment. "Just a little."
Her tone was still calm, still Hana-like—
but the warmth around her was unmistakable.
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear again and looked forward, gaze steadying.
"…Thank you for staying close," she said quietly.
"Hm?"
"It's easier like this. Shopping. Walking. Everything."
I didn't know what to say to that.
So I just nodded.
"No problem."
For a few seconds, we sat side by side in comfortable silence—
her breathing steady,
her fingers brushing the label of her water bottle,
her shoulder barely grazing mine every time she shifted.
Subtle.
Quiet.
But somehow… more meaningful than anything loud.
After a short pause, Hana stood up.
"…Let's go," she said, voice back to its usual soft steadiness.
"We still have to find the last item."
"Feeling better?"
She hesitated just a second.
"…Yes."
But the faint blush on her cheeks said everything else.
We walked for a while, weaving through the crowd.
At some point, I realized something.
"…Hana."
"Hm?"
"We've passed that same shop three times."
She froze.
A beat.
Then another.
"…Ah."
I raised an eyebrow.
"You don't know where we're going, do you?"
She looked away—calm face, red ears.
"…Maybe."
"So yes."
"…Please don't say it like that," she murmured.
I sighed, but not in a bad way.
"Okay. Hand me the list."
She quietly passed it to me.
Her fingers brushed mine again—she didn't flinch this time, just looked down quickly.
"Come on," I said, walking ahead a bit. "The music store should be on the west wing."
She followed behind me—closer than before.
When I slowed down, she slowed.
When I stopped to check signs, she peeked over my shoulder.
"See?" I pointed. "There's the music shop. Let's go."
"…You really are reliable," she said softly.
"Don't say that like it's surprising."
"I'm not surprised," she whispered.
"…Just… noticing."
On the way, we passed a row of photobooths glowing with neon lights.
Hana slowed down.
"…Kaito."
"Yeah?"
"…The others… would probably use these."
She looked at the screen showing cute decorative frames.
"Especially Akane."
"Probably," I said.
We kept walking.
Five steps later, Hana stopped again.
"…Maybe we should test it," she said suddenly.
I blinked.
"Why?"
"To… see the quality…?"
She looked away.
The tips of her ears turned pink.
"…For them."
Sure. For them.
But okay.
"Fine," I shrugged. "Let's check one."
She entered the booth first, carefully sitting on the right.
I sat beside her—close, because the booth was tiny.
Too close.
Hana stiffened instantly.
The screen popped up:
POSE 1 — SMILE
Hana's eyes widened.
"I… didn't think this through," she whispered.
"You suggested it."
"D-Don't remind me."
We awkwardly looked forward.
The booth beeped.
Click.
Hana immediately covered her face with one hand.
"Did it look weird?" she asked, voice trembling.
"We both looked normal. Calm."
"…Normal is good," she whispered.
POSE 2 — PEACE SIGN
She hesitated… then gave a tiny, shy peace sign.
Barely visible.
Cute.
Click.
"Okay," she muttered, already flustered. "C-can we stop here—"
POSE 3 — CLOSE UP
The camera zoomed in automatically.
Hana made this tiny panic noise under her breath.
"…Why is it zooming…?"
"Just stay still."
"I am staying still."
She wasn't.
She was shaking.
Click.
When the photos printed, she took them quickly before I could even grab them.
"N-no one else sees these," she said firmly.
"Why?"
"…Because."
Great explanation.
She tucked them inside her bag, face glowing red.
We finally reached the music shop.
The moment we entered, the soft sound of guitar strings and piano notes filled the air.
Hana looked around, her eyes sparkling.
"…It's peaceful."
"Still embarrassed?"
"…That's not relevant," she murmured.
We split up to look for accessories.
She picked up a guitar strap—simple, brown leather.
"This would fit Akane's chaotic taste," she said.
"Yeah. And she'll complain about the price anyway."
Hana chuckled softly.
She moved to the piano section and touched a metronome.
"This one for Rei."
"Practical."
"…Right."
But then her gaze slowly drifted toward a display of violin rosin.
She hesitated.
"…Kaito."
"Yeah?"
"You… used to play violin, right?"
I stiffened.
"…I don't anymore."
"I know."
Her voice softened.
"But… if someday you want to try again…"
She tapped the rosin lightly.
"…I'll sit next to you while you do."
I didn't answer.
I couldn't.
So I just picked up the items and headed to the counter.
Hana didn't say anything else, but she walked closer—
almost brushing my arm.
Once we stepped outside the store, I checked the time.
"We should find the others."
"Yes…" she whispered.
Then, a little lower:
"…Before they misunderstand."
I raised an eyebrow.
"Misunderstand what?"
She froze.
"…N-nothing."
Her voice cracked.
I pretended not to hear it.
We walked through the mall, searching.
By the time Hana and I made it back to the meeting spot, the others were already waiting.
I walked normally, but Hana stayed a little behind me, looking like she might catch fire if someone touched her.
Akane raised an eyebrow the moment she saw us.
"Took you long enough. What were you two doing?"
"Nothing special," I said. "We just… got a little lost."
Hana instantly choked on her own breath.
"I–It wasn't a date! W-we were just buying stuff!"
Rei stepped closer, her eyes quiet but sharp.
"Lost. While shopping. The two of you."
I couldn't tell if she was interrogating us or just stating facts.
Before I could say anything else, Mika leaned in like a bomb with a smile.
"Did the picture turn out cute?"
Hana practically exploded beside me.
"M-Mika! P-Please—stop talking!"
I didn't really get why everyone reacted so strongly.
Akane crossed her arms, smirking.
"Oh? So you even took a photo. Interesting."
"It wasn't planned," I explained. "We just passed by a photobooth. Hana said she'd never tried it."
"I said I've never tried it," Hana muttered, turning away, "not that I—I wanted to—"
Rei let out a soft, almost amused hum.
"I understand."
…Understand what?
Meanwhile, Naoko stood a little behind the group, watching us.
Her face didn't show much, but for some reason she looked… thoughtful.
Almost like she was connecting dots I didn't know existed.
We resumed walking through the mall, but something felt… different.
Heavier.
Awkward, even.
Suddenly, Akane stepped right beside me and grabbed my arm.
"Kaito, help me check this."
Before I even processed that—
Rei smoothly slid into position on my other side.
"After that, help me as well."
I blinked.
"…Is something going on?"
"No," Rei replied.
"Yes," Akane replied at the exact same time.
They glared at each other.
I was starting to think going home earlier would've been safer.
Then I heard a small, hesitant voice behind me.
"K-Kaito…"
I turned.
Hana was standing there, eyes lowered, hands fidgeting with the hem of her coat.
"…do you mind helping me too? Only if you're not tired."
"Of course I don't mind," I said before thinking.
She looked up—
and her face softened in a way that made my chest tighten for a second.
Behind us, I heard three different reactions:
Akane clicking her tongue,
Rei exhaling slowly,
and Naoko… quietly staring at Hana, expression unreadable.
Mika, clueless as always, just hummed happily.
Later, as we left the mall, the atmosphere was even stranger.
Akane walked ahead, glancing back at Hana with a smirk.
"You looked like you had fun today."
Hana stammered, "W-What are you talking about…?"
Rei stepped in smoothly.
"In that case, we shouldn't fall behind."
"Fall behind in what…?" I asked.
No one answered me.
Then Mika suddenly raised her hand.
"Oh! Oh! I know! She means that Kaito isn't just Hana's—"
"Mika," Rei said sharply.
"What? Did I say something wrong?"
Naoko finally spoke up from behind us, voice soft as always.
"…This is… getting complicated."
I rubbed my head.
"Can someone explain what's going on?"
All four girls answered at once:
"It's nothing."
Which, somehow, made everything feel ten times more suspicious.
I didn't know what their problem was—
but there was a problem.
I could feel it.
Just a few steps later, Akane suddenly moved closer to me.
"Hey. Walk with me a bit."
But before I could answer, Rei smoothly appeared on my other side.
"Kaito, I need you too."
Then Hana hurried forward, flustered.
"W-Wait—! Um, Kaito, c-can I talk to you after them?"
Naoko, who never rushed anything, quietly approached as well.
"…If possible… I'd also like a moment. Later."
Now all four of them were looking at each other.
And the way they looked at each other…
…yeah.
They definitely thought the others were in the way.
Of what?
No clue.
I was completely lost.
Mika, meanwhile, was just smiling like she missed the entire point.
"Are we lining up? What game is this?"
"It's not a game," the four of them said at the same time.
Great. Perfectly synchronized.
I rubbed my temples.
Okay. Something weird was going on.
Something I didn't understand at all.
But the longer they stayed together like this, the worse the atmosphere got.
So I stepped a bit forward and clapped my hands once.
"Alright, stop. New plan."
Four heads turned to me instantly, like I just pressed a button.
"…We're not doing this here," I said. "Whatever you all want to talk about, it's obviously confusing. Let's go somewhere we can sit down."
"Where?" Akane asked.
I pointed ahead.
"To Rei's place. It's close, and we need to discuss the Kawaguchiko trip anyway."
Rei blinked.
"My house?"
"Yeah. It's the only place with enough space, right?"
She stared at me for a second—
then gave a small, elegant nod.
"…I suppose that's true. I'll prepare tea."
Hana tugged my sleeve lightly.
"A-Are you sure we're not bothering Rei…?"
"It's fine," Rei said lightly, but her eyes flicked at Hana.
Not in a mean way.
Just… sharp.
Akane crossed her arms.
"Tch. Figures we'd go to the rich girl's mansion."
"It's a normal house," Rei replied, smiling with the smile of someone who lived in anything but a normal house.
Naoko stayed quiet, but she looked relieved.
"…A peaceful place sounds good."
Mika pumped her fist.
"Yay! Tea time!"
"…It's not tea time," I sighed.
The group started walking again, but the strange vibe followed us like fog.
Akane occasionally glared at Rei.
Rei kept glancing at Hana.
Hana kept watching Naoko nervously.
Naoko kept studying everyone in silence.
It felt like I was walking in the middle of four people who were all silently competing over something…
…but I had no idea what the "something" was.
I really hoped going to Rei's house would help clear things up.
Because if we didn't settle this, the Kawaguchiko trip was going to be a disaster before it even started.
The moment we reached the front yard, Rei suddenly slowed down.
There was a car parked neatly in the driveway.
Rei blinked once.
Then twice.
And then her eyes widened with a rare spark of excitement.
"Oh— they're home."
Before any of us could ask, she turned to us with a bright, genuine smile.
"My parents! They came back from their trip!"
And just like that, she hurried toward the front door, practically forgetting we existed.
Not gonna lie… seeing Rei that excited was kind of surprising.
The rest of us stood there awkwardly in a small cluster.
Akane lifted an eyebrow.
"So… we're just gonna… wait out here?"
Mika scratched her cheek.
"I mean… we could go home—"
"No," Hana interrupted quickly, flustered. "W-We came here for the meeting."
Naoko nodded quietly beside her.
All eyes drifted to me.
Again.
I exhaled and stepped forward.
"Alright, let's go. We should head inside too."
They followed behind me—
even though I had absolutely no idea why I kept becoming the group's default leader.
But nobody complained, so… whatever.
I slid the door open.
"Excuse us—"
The inside was quieter than expected.
Then a warm voice echoed from the hallway.
"Oh? Rei, dear, is that— ah!"
A woman appeared—elegant, friendly, with the kind of smile that instantly made you feel welcome.
Rei's mother.
Behind her, a tall man stepped out calmly, arms folded.
Definitely Rei's father.
And instantly—
"Akane-chan! Hana-chan! Naoko-chan! Mika-chan! You're all here again!"
The girls froze.
Then bowed together like they practiced it.
"G-Good afternoon!!"
…They really had been here often.
Her eyes then landed on me.
"And this must be…?"
I straightened myself.
Time to be polite.
Extremely polite.
"My name is Hayashi Kaito. Thank you for welcoming us into your home."
Her smile widened.
"Hayasi-kun! Welcome, welcome! Please make yourself at home. Any friend of these girls is always welcome here."
I bowed again, deeper this time.
"We came to discuss our trip to Kawaguchiko. And, ah… we stayed over yesterday as well. Rei mentioned it should be okay."
"Oh, I heard!" she said brightly. "I'm glad you all had fun. Rei usually doesn't host people unless she's comfortable with them."
Rei, who had just reappeared behind her parents, instantly tensed.
"M-Mom, don't say unnecessary things."
"Unnecessary?" her mother teased. "I think it's cute."
Akane stifled a grin.
Hana looked away shyly.
Naoko blinked.
Mika giggled.
I, however, was focused on being respectful.
"It truly was a comfortable stay," I said calmly. "Thank you for letting us use your home."
Rei's mother brightened even more—
which I didn't think was possible.
"Oh my, he's so polite! And handsome too—"
"Mom," Rei hissed.
Her father finally spoke, voice low and steady.
"…Good to meet you, Hayashi-kun."
He gave a small nod.
The kind that said he approved—but would still observe.
"Good to meet you as well, Asagiri-san," I replied immediately.
And then—
Rei's mother stepped closer and put her hands on my shoulders as if we'd known each other for years.
"You're so easy to talk to! Why didn't the girls tell me you were this charming?"
The room froze.
Especially the girls.
Mika's mouth opened.
Naoko blinked rapidly.
Akane stared in disbelief.
Hana nearly dropped her bag.
Rei covered her face with her hands.
"Mom—!!"
I cleared my throat and offered a calm smile.
"I… just try to get along with everyone."
"Ohh, humble too!" Rei's mother laughed. "Come in, come in! I'll prepare snacks. You kids must be tired."
At this point, even Rei's father looked slightly amused.
The girls gathered around me like a confused flock of birds once her parents walked away.
Akane whispered, "How… how did you get along with her that fast?"
Hana added softly, "She really… likes you…"
Naoko looked thoughtful.
"…Impressive."
Mika gasped, pointing at me dramatically.
"Kaito, are you… secretly a mom-magnet!?"
Rei, still covering half her face, muttered:
"…This is going to be so embarrassing…"
I blinked.
"I… didn't do anything weird, did I?"
The five girls stared at me.
Rei sighed.
"No," she said. "That's the problem."
And just like that—
The chaos continued.