After hearing this, Yukinoshita Shizuku playfully swatted at Tsushima Kagami.
"Honestly, are you a siscon?"
Tsushima Kagami hastily dodged with a smile.
"Who says? I'm obviously an older-sister-con."
"I like mature, beautiful older women~"
Tsushima Kagami shifted the mask on his face to the side and looked at Yukinoshita Shizuku with a smile.
"Besides, I don't even have a girlfriend, so where would I get lovers?"
Hearing Tsushima Kagami say this, Yukinoshita Shizuku suddenly remembered that she seemingly still held the status of his fiancée.
However, this matter had never been explicitly discussed. She was highly resistant to the idea herself, often refusing to even think about it.
But with it being brought up today, she suddenly realized that the current Kagami was surrounded by many girls who were even more outstanding than her.
It seemed... it seemed like she wasn't irreplaceable to him.
At this thought, Yukinoshita Shizuku pressed a hand against her chest.
But why?
Logically, she should be happy.
Happy for Kagami's growth, and happy that she was freed from the shackles of being his fiancée.
But why couldn't she feel happy?
Why was there this feeling of empty loss?
Why had this feeling grown stronger and stronger recently?
Seeing Yukinoshita Shizuku suddenly standing there in silence, Tsushima Kagami finally asked.
"Why are you suddenly so quiet? It's kind of scary."
Snapping back to reality, Yukinoshita Shizuku looked at Tsushima Kagami with a faint smile.
"It's nothing. I just suddenly remembered something, but couldn't recall what it was, so I spaced out."
"Ah, that happens to me a lot too," Tsushima Kagami said with a smile.
"Do you want to keep walking around?"
"No, let's head back," Yukinoshita Shizuku said, suddenly sounding a bit lacking in enthusiasm.
The two returned to the bottom of their apartment building. Just as they were about to enter the passcode to unlock the door, Tsushima Kagami spotted Shimizu Nayotake walking over from the distance.
She was exactly the same as always; even on her days off, she spent most of her time wearing the uniform of Private Ousai High School.
At this moment, Shimizu Nayotake also noticed Tsushima Kagami and Yukinoshita Shizuku, who had just returned.
"Hi, Nayotake-san~"
Yukinoshita Shizuku glanced at Tsushima Kagami.
"Since when did you get so close to Nayotake-san?"
"Ah, it was that time I came back before heading to Sendai. Did I not tell you?"
"I don't recall you ever telling me."
Yukinoshita Shizuku looked at Tsushima Kagami, then turned her head toward Shimizu Nayotake, who wasn't far away, and smiled.
"Nayotake, what are you standing around over there for? Hurry up and come here."
Shimizu Nayotake looked at the two of them and gave a faint smile. Then, she bowed slightly in greeting and prepared to turn and leave.
Seeing Shimizu Nayotake arrive here so late, Tsushima Kagami figured that she was probably forced out by debt collectors again today. Too afraid to go home, she had likely planned to crash here for the night, but felt embarrassed upon seeing that both of them had returned.
By this time, Yukinoshita Shizuku had already chased after her and grabbed hold of Shimizu Nayotake.
"Why are you running away again?"
Tsushima Kagami also walked over with a smile.
"That's right, Nayotake-san. You're already here."
"As the saying goes, strangers the first time, familiar the second. We should have gotten familiar last time."
"Being this distant, are you not treating Shizuku as a friend?"
Hearing Tsushima Kagami say this, Shimizu Nayotake finally turned around to look at Yukinoshita Shizuku, who was holding onto her, and hurriedly shook her head.
"Shizuku is my best friend."
"Then I guess I'm your second-best friend," Tsushima Kagami said with a cheeky grin.
Shimizu Nayotake looked at him, finally pursing her lips and nodding.
The three returned home. Yukinoshita Shizuku and Shimizu Nayotake took a bath together, and right now, the two were in the room drying each other's hair.
Meanwhile, Tsushima Kagami turned on the TV, playing a classic old anime that he hadn't watched and never had the time to catch up on, while he prepared dinner.
"Nayotake, how has your summer vacation been?"
Shimizu Nayotake had just finished drying Yukinoshita Shizuku's hair, and now Yukinoshita Shizuku was drying hers while asking about her recent situation.
Wearing Yukinoshita Shizuku's pajamas, Shimizu Nayotake sat on the edge of the bed. She thought for a moment before answering.
"It's been okay. I've been doing part-time work continuously."
"? Did you get a new part-time job again?"
Shimizu Nayotake nodded.
"Delivering newspapers in the morning."
"That must be really tough."
She shook her head again.
"Everyone is very nice."
Yukinoshita Shizuku smiled faintly.
"Because Nayotake is a good person, you deserve to meet good people."
Shimizu Nayotake also smiled, turning her head to look at Yukinoshita Shizuku.
"Shizuku is also a good person, so you will meet many good people and good things."
Upon hearing this, Yukinoshita Shizuku's face fell.
"Good things?"
"I've been tortured to death by my mother at home recently."
"It's all Kagami's fault. If he hadn't suddenly suggested going to a training camp in Sendai..."
"...Mother wouldn't have remembered to keep me by her side and continue training me!"
Listening to Yukinoshita Shizuku's complaints, Shimizu Nayotake smiled faintly.
"It's nice to be able to stay by your mother's side."
Yukinoshita Shizuku then remembered that Shimizu Nayotake's current situation might also be because of her mother. However, afraid of hurting Shimizu Nayotake, Yukinoshita Shizuku had never been able to bring herself to ask about the specific reasons.
Just as she was thinking of a way to change the subject, Tsushima Kagami called out from the living room.
"Are you two done drying your hair? If you're done, come out and eat."
Hearing Tsushima Kagami's timely rescue, Yukinoshita Shizuku breathed a sigh of relief. Looking at Shimizu Nayotake's practically dry hair, she said, "Let's go have dinner then."
Shimizu Nayotake nodded and followed Yukinoshita Shizuku to the living room.
"Thanks for the meal."
The three of them picked up their chopsticks and immediately dug in.
This time, Shimizu Nayotake wasn't as reserved as before.
She took large bites of the delicious dishes Tsushima Kagami had prepared.
At this moment, Yukinoshita Shizuku suddenly asked Shimizu Nayotake a question.
"By the way, Nayotake, do you have part-time work tomorrow?"
Shimizu Nayotake thought for a moment before shaking her head.
"I don't have any shifts scheduled for the whole day tomorrow."
Hearing her say this, Yukinoshita Shizuku looked over at Tsushima Kagami again.
"Um... Can we have Nayotake come along and help out tomorrow?"
Tsushima Kagami, who was eating, paused to think it over.
They had to sell ten thousand copies of their doujinshi tomorrow. If it truly turned out to be that popular, they would indeed be very busy.
With just the five of them there, and needing people to take turns resting, they really might not be able to handle it all. Having an extra helper would definitely be better.
Thus, Tsushima Kagami nodded and said.
"Sure, as long as Nayotake-san is willing."
"It's probably going to be really busy tomorrow."
"Sayuri and the others will definitely be eager for as much help as possible."
Hearing the two of them say this, Shimizu Nayotake also looked at Yukinoshita Shizuku beside her.
After Tsushima Kagami nodded in agreement, Yukinoshita Shizuku finally smiled at Shimizu Nayotake and explained.
"Tomorrow, Kagami is going to participate in the CM doujinshi convention with his club friends."
"It's expected to be very busy, so I was thinking that if you don't have part-time work tomorrow, Nayotake, you could come and help us out."
Shimizu Nayotake stuffed a piece of fried chicken into her mouth, then looked at Yukinoshita Shizuku and Tsushima Kagami. She nodded, mumbling with a full mouth.
"I'll go too."
____
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