Chapter 7: Love? Nothing But Trouble

 

It was nearly noon on Sunday in the bustling downtown area of the neighboring prefecture where they often hung out.

Various buildings and shops lined the streets, crowded with people enjoying their day off.

Lost in the sea of people, Yuuma—who had completely transformed his appearance—kept fidgeting with his newly lightened hair, unable to settle down.

“Hmm, feels weird…”

“Are you self-conscious about people staring?”

“Well, that’s part of it.”

“I totally get how you feel~ I went through the same thing!”

Suzuka said with a playful smirk as she studied Yuuma intently.

They’d come downtown first thing in the morning to get Yuuma’s hair cut at a salon. Gone was his heavy, awkward previous style—replaced with a short, fresh cut that gave him a clean, crisp look.

Not only that, but even though he’d just thrown together clothes he had at home based on fashion magazines, his whole appearance had changed dramatically. Suzuka couldn’t help but let out an impressed “Wow” with a sigh.

However, unable to judge himself objectively and still lacking confidence, Yuuma responded to Suzuka’s sigh with a slightly sulky voice.

“…What is it?”

“No, no, it’s just… looking at you now, Yuu-kun, you’ve changed so much!”

“Really that much?”

“Even your clothes are different… Where’d you get those?”

“Remember when we went to buy protection the other day? I studied that fashion magazine I got at the convenience store. Does it look weird?”

“Nope, nope, it’s totally stylish! At least I think it looks perfect. Also—”

Suzuka paused for a moment, quickly glancing around before leaning in close to whisper in his ear with slight embarrassment.

“—you’ve become totally my type. It actually made my heart skip a beat.”

“W-well, I mean, I coordinated it to match your taste. Of course it looks good to you.”

Yuuma answered, looking away bashfully.

He thought back to earlier at the salon, where the hairstylist and Suzuka had gotten really excited about styling his hair.

After all, the whole reason for this was so he could stand proudly next to Suzuka.

If Suzuka was giving it her seal of approval, there was no point worrying about what others thought. Yuuma felt a bit relieved.

However, Suzuka was looking herself up and down, muttering with frustration.

“Ugh, I messed up…”

“Messed up? What do you mean?”

“My clothes, my clothes!”

“Your clothes?”

Suzuka grabbed the hem of her familiar hooded parka. Underneath were her usual jeans—the same casual outfit she always wore when they went out. The simple style actually highlighted her natural good looks, suiting her perfectly well. This look definitely worked for her too.

As Yuuma tilted his head in confusion, Suzuka spoke with a slightly pouty tone.

“If I’m the only one dressed normally, it kind of feels like I lost to you, you know?”

“…Pfft!”

“Hey, don’t laugh!”

Yuuma couldn’t help but burst out laughing at her childish reasoning.

Suzuka puffed up her cheeks in response.

“Wait, Suzuka, did you even have any nice clothes like this?”

“Nope! If anything, my school uniform might be the cutest thing I own!”

“Haha, that’s no good!”

“Hehe, you’re right!”

As they were laughing together, a stomach growled loudly.

Yuuma held his stomach, furrowing his brow as he spoke.

“I left without eating breakfast, so I’m starving. Should we grab something to eat?”

“Yeah, it’s almost lunch time anyway. Where should we go?”

“Our usual burger place should be fine, right? They’ve got that half-off deal when you buy two right now. We can split them.”

“Alright, let’s do that!”

 

 

They headed to the burger chain they always visited when they came downtown, placed their order, got their food, and sat down in a booth tucked away in the back.

Around them were other young people their age, either planning their day out or grabbing a bite before heading off to have fun.

With their chatter as background noise, Yuuma took a bite of his bacon cheeseburger and muttered quietly.

“So what should we do now? We came all the way here, seems weird to just head back…”

“Come to think of it, we haven’t really hung out normally in a while, huh?”

When Suzuka said this teasingly with a smirk, Yuuma’s face twisted into a grimace.

Now that he thought about it, lately they’d been doing nothing but fooling around at every opportunity. He was well aware they’d been drowning in lust.

Still, it might be nice to do something different today.

“Want to play it safe and hit up karaoke?”

“Mmm, we’re out of coupons though, so going now would feel like losing somehow.”

“That twenty percent off is pretty significant. How about a movie… wonder what’s playing?”

“Hmm… looking at what’s out, nothing seems that interesting…”

“Cat cafe maybe?”

“Oh, that actually sounds interesting!”

They discussed their options while munching on their burgers.

Just then, both their phones buzzed with a notification.

Wondering what it was, they checked their phones to find a photo in their group chat that included Riko. It showed Kousei with his hair and clothes perfectly styled, along with the message: 《How’s this outfit for meeting senpai today?》

His stylish and refreshing look was so different from his usual appearance that both of them couldn’t help but let out an impressed “Whoa!”

Riko was the first to respond:

《Wow, Kousei-senpai doesn’t even look like Kousei-senpai anymore. As expected of my styling advice, it suits you perfectly! Even a monkey looks good in clothes!》

《That last part was unnecessary!》

《Well,》 Yuuma replied, 《I gotta say, Abunaga, you’ve transformed him. Looking good, Kousei. You should be confident!》

《Yeah yeah, I’m impressed with my Onii-chan~》

《Oh, uh, really?》

Apparently, Kousei was going to eat pancakes with his senpai as a thank-you for something the other day.

That must be why he was fussing over everything so much.

His nervousness came through even in his messages, making them smile knowingly.

When Riko teased 《What if you get too nervous to talk?》, he replied 《That’s scarily possible》 with obvious concern.

As they were watching this exchange with amusement, Suzuka suddenly exclaimed “Ah!” as if struck by a brilliant idea.

“Hey, let’s go clothes shopping!”

“Clothes?”

“Well, you know, I don’t have anything decent. Here you are with your new hair and everything, while I’m falling behind. It feels like such a waste. Plus, I can’t keep losing to you like this.”

“Losing? It’s not a competition.”

Such talk of “waste” and “winning and losing” was so typical of Suzuka.

When Yuuma couldn’t help but laugh, Suzuka puffed up her cheeks and pinched his side, making him squirm.

Suzuka tried to explain herself:

“Look, I’ve always just focused on practicality when choosing clothes, so I don’t even know what suits me.”

“Ah, I see. So you want an objective opinion?”

“Exactly!”

“Alright then, let’s go clothes shopping!”

“Yay!”

No sooner had she agreed than Suzuka stuffed the rest of her burger into her mouth in one bite, licked the sauce off her fingers, and stood up.

Yuuma did the same, cramming the remaining fries into his mouth and washing them down with cola before they left the restaurant together.

 

 

And so, Suzuka enthusiastically led Yuuma to a discount store that proudly advertised itself as the “Palace of Bargains.” Standing in the party goods section, Yuuma couldn’t help but exclaim in disbelief:

“Wait, these are cosplay costumes!”

“Tehe~ I’ve been curious about this place for a while~ Looks like we can try stuff on too!”

“Geez…”

Suzuka’s eyes sparkled with curiosity as she started browsing through the items.

Though exasperated, Yuuma couldn’t help but smile at how typically Suzuka this was, and looked around the store.

They had everything from standard sailor uniforms, nurse outfits, and cheerleader costumes to outfits that looked straight out of anime and games. Not just that, but there were wigs and extensions in various colors and lengths, cat ears and tails, witch hats, prop swords, and other accessories—it was truly impressive. Like Suzuka, he found himself looking around curiously. Being his first time in a place like this, he couldn’t help but get excited too.

Meanwhile, Suzuka was examining the costumes with a thoughtful expression. After a while, she called out to him with a slightly troubled voice:

“Hmm, I wonder what would suit me?”

“……………Dunno?”

“What do you mean ‘dunno’! Geez!”

“Can’t help it, it’s my first time in a place like this too. Let’s just try whatever catches your eye.”

“I guess you’re right. Well, let’s skip the school uniforms since I already have a real one—”

“But we can’t ignore the classics, like this—”

Yuuma and Suzuka picked out costumes together like kids plotting some mischief. It felt more like they were evaluating toys or games rather than clothes, but it was surprisingly fun.

Eventually, they took their selections to the fitting room.

The first outfit Suzuka tried on was a bright red cheongsam with alluring slits that showed off her legs.

“Ta-da! How is it?”

Seeing her, Yuuma’s eyes widened and he started clapping.

“Ooh, nice! You’re tall and slim, Suzuka, so that style really suits you!”

“Ehehe, really? Though it feels kind of weird getting compliments like that from you, Yuu-kun…”

“Hey, I was just being honest. Show me the others too!”

“Okay, wait a sec!”

Next, Suzuka changed into a colorful, frilly idol costume that looked like something from a game or anime. When she struck a pose with an enthusiastic “Hey!”, Yuuma let out an impressed “Wow!”

“This kind of thing works too. It’s flashy and a bit over-the-top, but…”

“Haha, I think so too. Well, it is designed for stage performances after all!”

They continued trying on various outfits—shrine maiden, Santa Claus, even a courtesan costume—sharing their opinions on each one.

It was surprisingly fun watching Suzuka transform into different characters, and they were both getting really into it.

But when she changed into one particular outfit, Yuuma suddenly choked on his words with an “Urk!”

“What’s wrong, Yuu-kun?”

“Ah, no, nothing…?”

“Hmm~?”

Suzuka had changed into a maid outfit. It was the Japanese “moe” style—low neckline emphasizing the chest, a mini-skirt showing off her thighs, and plenty of frills and a corset.

Seeing Yuuma’s wandering gaze and slightly flushed cheeks, Suzuka caught on and flashed a mischievous grin. She grabbed his arm and pulled him into the fitting room.

“S-Suzuka!?”

Caught off guard, Yuuma stumbled. Suzuka caught him, and now pressed close against him, she whispered teasingly in his ear.

“So Yuu-kun likes maid outfits, huh?”

“W-well, I don’t dislike them…”

“Come to think of it, my brother did mention that your favorite characters are always maids.”

“…Got a problem with that?”

“Not at all~ Just thinking how you’re such a boy sometimes. …Nom.”

“H-hey Suzuka, stop it, please stop!”

When Suzuka playfully nibbled his ear, Yuuma felt his blood rushing and quickly pulled away. Suzuka let out a disappointed “Aww,” and he glared at her—but then caught sight of her in the maid outfit he liked so much, made a small “ngh” sound, and looked away.

Suzuka giggled and asked suggestively:

“Yuu-kun, want me to give you some special maid service in this?”

“……………………I’ll pay half.”

“Ahaha, that was quick~”

“Nothing wrong with that, right?”

“I guess not~”

Yuuma felt thoroughly outplayed as Suzuka burst into laughter.

 

 

After buying the maid outfit, they returned to their original purpose and headed to a shopping complex with multiple specialty stores.

Starting from the first floor, they looked at the mannequins displayed in front of each store, going in to try things on if something caught either of their eyes.

At one store they visited, Yuuma furrowed his brow and let out a low grumble.

“Hmm, something’s not quite right.”

“Really? I think this looks nice too.”

“Well, I thought it would go with your hair, but something’s just not clicking… sorry.”

“I see. Well, we’ve come this far, so I’ll keep at it. But choosing clothes is harder than I expected. It takes a surprising amount of energy!”

Suzuka’s voice mixed exhaustion and exasperation. Including the cosplay earlier, they’d tried on so many outfits.

With limited pocket money and having just bought the maid outfit, they had to be careful with what was left.

“Sorry about this.”

“It’s fine, I want to match your taste anyway!”

When he apologized, she threw his own words from before back at him playfully, making his heart skip a beat.

Feeling embarrassed, he scratched his hot cheek with his index finger and looked away, scanning the store for the next outfit to try.

Just then, a very smiley saleswoman approached them.

“Um… how about this one?”

“Eh, this…?”

“Please, you must try it on! Right?”

“Ah, yes. Suzuka…?”

“O-okay, I’ll try it on.”

Yuuma and Suzuka were taken aback by the sudden suggestion.

Though hesitant, Suzuka let herself be swept along by the saleswoman’s enthusiasm and took the clothes to the fitting room.

While Suzuka changed, Yuuma awkwardly stood around.

The saleswoman just kept smiling contentedly.

Eventually, Suzuka emerged with a stiff “I’m done,” and Yuuma let out an impressed “Whoa.”

“…How is it?”

“…Yeah, it’s good.”

The cute and elegant dress the saleswoman had chosen suited Suzuka perfectly—as expected of a professional. It was almost mesmerizing.

Clapping her hands together with a bright smile, the saleswoman nodded enthusiastically and spoke:

“It’s perfect, yes, just perfect! I could tell your boyfriend prefers girly and cute styles, but since his girlfriend is on the taller side, that can be tricky to balance. This one strikes just the right balance!”

“G-girlfriend…?”

Yuuma couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise at the words “boyfriend” and “girlfriend.”

He supposed the situation might look that way.

Suzuka laughed and waved her hand as she corrected the misunderstanding.

“Ahaha, we’re not dating. I guess you could say we’re childhood friends? Well, more like I know him through my brother who’s his best friend?”

“Yeah, something like that. We’re not dating.”

“What!? But you two seem so close, I was sure! You should just start dating!”

“Ahh, I don’t think I could feel that way now… What about you, Yuu-kun?”

“Me neither. I know too much about Suzuka, and nothing would really change, you know?”

Yes, even though they’d started this relationship they couldn’t tell others about.

“Right?” they said, exchanging knowing looks and wry smiles.

The saleswoman blinked, then said “My, my!” with an even wider smile.

Not understanding the meaning behind her smile, Yuuma and Suzuka bought the recommended dress, and Suzuka left wearing it.

 

 

As they walked aimlessly around the area, Suzuka stretched as if feeling liberated.

“Mmm~ I’m glad we found something good. I can’t wait to surprise Ri-chan!”

“Haha, but are you sure about it? I mean, it was chosen by a professional, so it must be good…”

“Oh, there was actually a big reason why this was the deciding factor.”

“Reason?”

Suzuka’s lips curved into a crescent-moon smile as she leaned in to whisper in his ear.

“You had the same reaction to this dress as you did to the maid outfit.”

“Oh, uh…”

That was a convincing reason. He looked away, embarrassed.

“If this outfit gets you going too, I’ll take care of you~”

“No, I’m good for now.”

“Just for now, huh?”

“…Well, I want you in the maid outfit first.”

“Ahaha!”

Yuuma and Suzuka laughed together at the silliness of it all.

After their laughter subsided, Suzuka wiped tears from the corners of her eyes and spoke thoughtfully.

“But you know, from the outside, we really do look like a couple. Want to try holding hands to test it?”

“Ah, hey!”

Before he could protest, Suzuka grabbed his hand and intertwined their fingers in a classic couple’s hand-hold.

Their hands were warmly connected, but that was all. Suzuka furrowed her brow in confusion.

“Hmm~ I’m not getting any heart-pounding feelings at all.”

“Me neither. Guess I can’t be your boyfriend after all.”

“Ahaha, what a coincidence, same here!”

“Haha!”

They looked at each other and laughed.

“But shopping for clothes like this is fun. I definitely prefer hanging out with you like this over romance and stuff.”

“Yeah, me too. That’s why I’m fine without a girlfriend. Having to be all careful around a senpai like Kousei seems kind of… you know.”

“Right, right, I feel the same! Plus with me, we can fool around without worrying!”

“Much appreciated.”

“Hehe, you’re welcome!”

Suzuka nodded dramatically. Their comfortable back-and-forth made his heart feel light.

Though he felt bad for Kousei, who was trying so hard at love, he still couldn’t quite understand its appeal.

This kind of relationship with Suzuka wasn’t bad either. As he was thinking this, they suddenly heard a familiar voice filled with confusion.

“Suzu-chan… and Kawai-senpai?”

“R-Ri-chan!” “Abunaga!”

It was Riko.

Yuuma and Suzuka’s eyes widened in surprise at running into her here, while Riko’s eyes grew large as if she’d seen something unexpected, her pupils trembling with shock.

Was she surprised by Yuuma’s image change? That’s what they thought at first, but then they noticed her gaze was fixed on their joined hands. Moreover, Suzuka was wearing a fancy dress that could easily pass for date wear—something completely different from her usual style.

It was crystal clear how this situation would look. Yuuma and Suzuka hastily let go of each other’s hands.

Riko’s face turned bright red as she burst out:

“I-I had no idea that Suzu-chan and Kawai-senpai had that kind of relationship! I never noticed!”

“Wait, Abunaga, you’ve got it wrong!”

“Y-yeah, Ri-chan, there’s an explanation for this!”

“No, no, I understand! You two have always been close, and recently when things were awkward, Suzu-chan suddenly changed her image, and now Kawai-senpai looks so different too… Oh, oh my… You should have told me, I’ll be more mindful from now on…!”

“Abunaga!”

“Ri-chan!”

Riko spun around with a mechanical “Gigigigi” sound, as if not wanting to intrude.

Yuuma quickly grabbed her shoulder while Suzuka grabbed her hand.

As Riko’s eyes spun in circles, she tried to escape, saying “No, no, you two are just too dazzling for a single person like me!” They desperately tried to calm her down and explain the situation.

They explained how Yuuma had been inspired by everyone’s image changes and had Suzuka accompany him to the salon. Then how Suzuka, influenced by Kousei’s stylish photo in today’s group chat, wanted to go clothes shopping.

And how when the shop clerk mistook them for a couple, they decided to try holding hands to see if they could actually become a couple—which is when they ran into Riko.

They insisted repeatedly that there was nothing more to it than that.

Eventually Riko calmed down, but her expression changed to one of skepticism.

“…So you were just experimentally holding hands?”

“That’s right! It felt just like when we held hands as kids, right, Yuu-kun?”

“Yeah, I thought maybe holding hands would make my heart race or something, but there was nothing at all, and then we just kind of forgot to let go, and well…”

“Hmm~~~~, is that so?”

“Yeah yeah, that’s exactly it!”

“You understand now, Abunaga!”

Riko let out an exaggerated sigh of exasperation, her narrowed eyes clearly showing her skepticism.

The conversation felt like it wasn’t quite connecting.

Yuuma and Suzuka were aware their explanation sounded somewhat forced.

Given how close they’d always been, it was natural for others to misunderstand. Even the saleswoman they’d just met had thought the same thing.

Riko stared intently at Yuuma and Suzuka with narrowed eyes, then spoke somewhat resignedly:

“Why don’t you two just actually start dating?”

“That’s…”

Yuuma fell silent at hearing the same words as the saleswoman earlier. He and Suzuka exchanged glances with wry smiles.

If asked whether he liked Suzuka, he could immediately say yes without hesitation.

But it wasn’t romantic love. That he could say with equal certainty.

At least, he’d never felt with Suzuka that heart-pounding sensation or that restless feeling of hanging on someone’s every little word and action—those feelings that lay at the bottom of his bitter memories.

It wasn’t that he’d never considered dating Suzuka, especially after their first time together.

But selfishly enough, he’d concluded they couldn’t become anything more special than they already were. That’s why he couldn’t imagine being her boyfriend. That feeling had only grown stronger since they’d started sleeping together again.

Then Suzuka, as if speaking Yuuma’s thoughts, asked Riko:

“Ri-chan, what does it mean to like someone?”

Her tone was hard to read—troubled, almost pleading.

Riko pressed her lips together tightly and spoke as if questioning herself, eyes closed in thought:

“…I guess it’s wanting to be special to that person, wanting them to look only at you…”

“So what would you do if the person you like has someone else they like?”

“Well… I’d be really jealous and probably get upset, but I’d want to support their happiness. Maybe if they started dating, it would help me give up…”

“…………” “…………”

Riko answered with downcast eyelashes and a stiff voice.

Her response implicitly revealed her feelings and attitude toward Kousei, leaving them at a loss for words.

A moment of silence passed.

Then Suzuka, placing a hand on her chest, added words tinged with resignation:

“You know, when I heard Yuu-kun had someone he liked, I didn’t feel anything at all.”

“Eh… Kawai-senpai had someone he liked!?”

“Yeah. I just thought ‘Oh, is that so?’ like it was someone else’s business. I felt nothing. That’s when I realized this ‘like’ isn’t romantic love.”

Riko turned surprised eyes toward Yuuma upon hearing he’d had someone he liked.

With a bitter smile, Yuuma scratched his cheek with his index finger and answered casually:

“Well, I got rejected in the end.”

“I… see…”

“So dating a girl like me who doesn’t have romantic feelings would just be trouble~”

“A girl like me”—the words carried self-deprecating implications of being someone who sleeps with someone she doesn’t even love just to satisfy physical desires.

But in that case, Yuuma was the same. They exchanged self-deprecating smiles at themselves.

“…”

The atmosphere grew solemn as silence fell over them.

But Suzuka wouldn’t let it stay that way, deliberately raising her voice cheerfully:

“By the way, Ri-chan, what brings you here today? Did you have plans? Oh yeah, isn’t there a pancake place around here that always has a line?”

“Ah! W-well, I’ve been curious about that place for a while, and after seeing Kousei-senpai today, I really wanted to try it, but I was too scared to line up alone…”

Riko’s change was dramatic.

As soon as Suzuka mentioned pancakes, she latched onto the topic, the previous atmosphere completely forgotten as she started talking rapidly. Yuuma and Suzuka’s expressions softened.

“Hmm~ why don’t we all go to that store together? We don’t have any other plans. That’s okay, right, Yuu-kun?”

“Yeah, I don’t mind.”

“Really!?”

“Yeah yeah, let’s go, Ri-chan!”

Riko’s eyes lit up instantly, and she bounced up and down, making fists in front of her chest. Her whole body expressed her joy.

The store was probably the one Kousei was at. She must have gotten the information from him somehow.

She was curious about Kousei but didn’t have the courage to go alone.

But now with Suzuka and Yuuma as companions and the pretext of visiting a trending spot together, Riko eagerly took the lead, hurrying them along.

“I heard they’re super fluffy, so soft you can scoop them with a spoon, and they just melt in your mouth! Isn’t that amazing!?”

“What, with a spoon!? Like pudding? And they melt in your mouth!?”

“Now you’ve got me curious too.”

“Apparently they make the meringue fresh when you order, so it takes a while. That’s why there’s always a line, but it’s not just the taste—even the interior is—”

And so Riko started enthusiastically explaining about the store. Who could she have learned all these details from, having never been there herself?

Thinking about what was in her heart made things complicated.

Glancing at Suzuka, he saw her wearing an enigmatic smile.

“Ah, there! There it is, over there!”

Eventually, they saw a long line in front of a building.

The shop, with its open terrace, had a clearly fashionable exterior at first glance, and both Suzuka and Riko let out an excited “Wow!”

A sweet, delicious aroma wafted through the air, drawing in crowds of women who seemed almost hypnotized. Yuuma felt slightly out of place.

“There’s so many people! Let’s get in line!”

“Okay, okay…”

With Suzuka fidgeting excitedly in full pancake mode, Yuuma followed with a wry smile as they joined the queue.

As they chatted, the line moved steadily forward until their number was called and they entered the shop.

“…!”

However, the moment they stepped inside, Riko—who had been the most eager to come—froze in place. Her face turned pale, as if she might collapse at any moment.

“Ri-chan…?”

When a puzzled Suzuka called out to her, Riko’s shoulders jumped, and with trembling fingers, she slowly pointed to a spot in the cafe.

Yuuma and Suzuka looked where she pointed—and caught their breath, voices overlapping in dismay.

“Onii-chan…” “Kousei…”

They could see Kousei’s back at a table in the far corner of the shop. He seemed lifeless, completely motionless, like a statue devoid of will.

Sitting across from him were an elegant, mature-looking woman and a tall, clean-cut man who appeared quite intimate with her.

They didn’t need confirmation to know.

It was Kousei’s crush—his senpai from work—and presumably her boyfriend.

…Kousei was always so transparent.

His senpai must have noticed his feelings long ago.

Still, what terrible timing.

They seemed to be trying to actively engage Kousei in conversation, but it wasn’t going well. They looked troubled.

They watched for a while, but Kousei didn’t move an inch.

Eventually, the pair finished their pancakes, his senpai said something to Kousei, and her boyfriend grabbed the check to pay at the register. Then they left the shop hand in hand.

Kousei remained behind, staring at his untouched pancakes.

“…………”

A heavy atmosphere descended.

Thinking about his longtime friend made Yuuma’s chest hurt so much he clutched at his shirt. Suzuka seemed to feel the same way.

Riko had been staring as if her soul had left her body, but now her fists were clenched so tight her nails dug into her palms. She spoke in a trembling voice that barely contained her rising anger:

“What… is this…?”

“Ri-chan!” “Abunaga!”

Looking ready to chase after the departing couple and grab them, Riko started forward, but Suzuka and Yuuma’s voices made her body jerk to a stop. She turned back toward Kousei with tear-filled eyes and rushed to his table instead.

Yuuma and Suzuka exchanged glances and followed.

“Kousei-senpai…”

“Riko… and Yuuma and Suzuka too…”

Finally raising his head at their voices, Kousei’s eyes were clouded and his voice had no energy.

“Ha, haha. Well, looks like you caught me in an awkward moment.”

Though wearing a pained expression, Yuuma cautiously asked on everyone’s behalf:

“Kousei, those people just now…?”

“Senpai’s boyfriend. Someone from her university club, apparently. I thought another coworker was coming to switch shifts, but I guess they couldn’t make it. She said it might be inappropriate for just a guy and girl to meet, so…”

But Kousei tried to act normal, not wanting them to worry, speaking as if it were nothing.

His obvious attempt to put on a brave face was painful to watch. Yet unable to dismiss his friend’s forced cheerfulness, Yuuma managed an awkward, ambiguous smile and deliberately brightened his voice:

“I-I see. That’s too bad.”

“You guys saw her too, right? She’s beautiful… it would be weird if she didn’t have a boyfriend. It’s only natural…”

“Ah, yeah…”

“But hey, good thing I didn’t fall for her too hard, right? The wound’s not too deep this way. If I’d been serious, I might not have recovered and ended up as a shut-in. Ah, it was a nice dream while it lasted.”

“…………”

Kousei spoke as if trying to convince himself. It was an obvious lie. By the end his voice was choked with tears, and he quickly looked away to hide what had welled up in his eyes.

Yuuma thought back to his own experience. Even with someone he’d only liked a little, he’d been completely depressed for days after being rejected. What Kousei was feeling must be so much worse.

God, his chest ached. He’d watched Kousei’s earnestness, his desperate efforts, his determination all this time.

He clenched his fist tight in frustration. Suzuka pressed her lips together and looked down.

Meanwhile, Riko spoke in a trembling voice that didn’t even try to hide her anger and resentment:

“That’s awful…!”

“Riko…?”

Her tone seemed almost inappropriate for the situation. Riko slammed her hands on the table, leaning forward with an intense expression as she confronted Kousei.

“Aren’t you angry, Kousei-senpai!?”

“Angry…?”

“They were making a fool of you! She knew she had a boyfriend but kept quiet and played with your feelings! And then when you started getting serious, they revealed it like some kind of cruel joke!”

“Riko, that’s not it.”

“Then why did she deliberately bring her boyfriend here to show off!? She could have gently told you with words, or shown you a photo of her boyfriend, or hinted at it somehow! But instead she did this… how is that not the worst—”

“Riko!”

“—!”

As Riko’s words and emotions escalated, Kousei cut her off with a sharp, loud voice filled with both reproach and strong emotion.

Riko’s shoulders jumped, and other customers turned to look at the commotion.

Kousei’s expression turned apologetic, and then almost pleading as he spoke:

“Please don’t speak badly of senpai.”

Those words carried his feelings—she was still someone he cared about.

“…I… I…”

Riko’s breath caught, her expression stunned. Her eyelashes trembled as she clenched her fist on the table, shaking.

Then she ran from the café as if fleeing, like she’d been shot from a gun.

“Ri-chan! …I’ll go after her!”

Suzuka immediately chased after Riko.

“Hey, Suzu—”

“Yuuma.”

As Yuuma moved to follow, Kousei’s voice stopped him.

When he turned back, Kousei’s face looked like a lost child about to cry as he weakly revealed his true feelings:

“…Sorry, but this is really tough for me after all.”

“Kousei…”

“Hey, since you’re here, would you eat my pancakes? Be a waste to leave them.”

“You sure?”

“I don’t think I could swallow anything right now.”

“…I see.”

Hearing his best friend’s raw honesty, Yuuma sat down across from him.

The famous pancakes he ate while watched by those hurt, pleading eyes were impossibly fluffy yet somehow tasteless.

“Hey, are they good?”

“Honestly, I can’t tell.”

And Yuuma cursed bitterly in his heart:

 

—Love? Nothing but trouble.