Perhaps she could not truly be called a proper person. (Happy Mid-Autumn Festival)

Jinguji Tsukihi suddenly thought that as long as one lives long enough, it seems there’s nothing they won’t encounter.

Though this statement is not exactly wrong, it’s certainly unusual coming from a high schooler who has only lived sixteen years in modern society and has yet to experience even the most basic harsh lessons of life.

Narrowing his eyes, the boy watched the two girls walking ahead of him, feeling somewhat superfluous.

Yet he didn’t dare to simply leave. Who knows what Sakura Sakurako’s rather careless nature might prompt her to say to Hoshinomori Hoshino? Otherwise, he wouldn’t have given up his leisurely weekend.

So Jinguji Tsukihi followed the two girls as they strolled around. Even now, he had no idea what they were out to buy today.

Nor could he understand why the two of them had suddenly become so close. This was, within the scope of Jinguji Tsukihi’s adolescence, one of the most baffling mysteries.

They passed through the bustling streets of Shibuya, and before he knew it, they’d arrived at the commercial section of Miyashita Park. The two stunning girls flitted from one clothing store to another, but neither bought a thing.

In the end, Jinguji Tsukihi followed them up to the fourth floor.

The commercial area of Miyashita Park had originally been built to welcome the Tokyo Olympics, incorporating the old park, shops, and hotels, and also serving as a public leisure spot.

Riding the escalator up to the fourth floor, he looked to the left through the wire mesh and saw the trains clattering past on the tracks below. The rooftop park on the fourth floor was dotted with sports facilities—rock climbing, beach soccer, and more.

Of course, these activities all required a fee. With discounts for younger students, the place was always lively with families bringing their children on weekends.

In front of a mobile dessert cart, the two girls were placing their orders. Their beauty drew many glances—one elegant and composed, the other lively and spirited—some of which came from boys with their girlfriends, inevitably earning those boys a scolding.

“Honey special drink, extra large, full sugar, full milk, make it rich.”

“Honey special drink, extra small, no sugar, no milk, make it light.”

“Hoshinomori-senpai, your order is so strange.”

“I get that a lot. Maybe it’s because my family’s been strict about my diet since I was little, so whenever I sneak out to buy something, I order only a little to lessen the guilt.”

“Oh… I see.”

“I’m also a little worried about gaining weight. If my waist were as trim as Sakura’s, I could drink whatever I wanted without worry.”

“Join the track team. I guarantee you’ll slim down in a week.”

“That does sound tempting, but I’ve got student council work to do. Such a pity.”

Sakura Sakurako glanced inconspicuously at Hoshinomori Hoshino’s bust and muttered under her breath, “Can you really get that kind of indecent size just by dieting? Unfair.”

“How about you, Jinguji?” Hoshinomori Hoshino turned to ask.

“No need to worry about him. He’s never liked this sort of thing since he was little.”

“Really? I had no idea.”

---

Sakura Sakurako quietly clenched her fist.

Yes! Victory is mine!

“But Jinguji does seem to enjoy the tea I brew in the student council room.”

…

The boy, lost in thought behind them, suddenly felt the sharp, slightly resentful gaze coming from Sakura Sakurako.

Why is she glaring at me?

A wave of dizziness hit him, and he couldn’t help but press his hand to his forehead.

Got up too early again today. Maybe weekends just aren’t for me.

“Tsukihi, why are you dawdling back there all alone?”

“That’s right! You’ll get separated from us in the crowd, Jinguji.”

…

In any case, the boy decided to make a bit more effort.

…

…

Eventually, the three high schoolers settled into a stark white, container-style Starbucks. Such a place was nothing new for Jinguji Tsukihi—he’d come here with all sorts of girls before, so the katakana menu board didn’t faze him in the slightest.

In a corner, the triangular table’s edges had been rounded off, and the surface shone with cleanliness.

Since Hoshinomori Hoshino and Sakura Sakurako still had their honey drinks, they only ordered cake. Jinguji Tsukihi, on the other hand, chose coffee—he needed some energy for his slightly dizzy mind.

“Here, these are the comics I promised you.”

Hoshinomori Hoshino placed a paper bag on the table. Jinguji Tsukihi recognized the logo as that of a particularly luxurious fashion brand, but inside, it seemed, were just comics.

“Uh… I never said I wanted to read them.”

“Oh, don’t say that. Just take it as my heartfelt recommendation.”

“If you put it like that…”

Having grown up together, Jinguji Tsukihi knew Sakura Sakurako’s personality well—she was wearing the look of someone who really wanted something.

“I’m surprised, President. You read comics too?”

---

“What do you take me for, Jinguji? Even I read shoujo manga, dreaming of those beautiful meetings and romances you find in them.”

“Whoa—President, I’d love to read that series too. After Sakura’s finished, could I borrow it?”

“Of course.”

With a smile, Hoshinomori Hoshino handed it over, and Sakura Sakurako accepted it shyly, murmuring a quiet thanks.

What surprised Jinguji Tsukihi was that he’d assumed the two girls had no real reason for coming out today. Yet before his eyes, they began discussing their thoughts on the comics—swapping notes, no less.

“I’ll read it carefully when I get home,” Hoshinomori Hoshino said, hugging the notebook Sakura Sakurako handed her, her expression sincere.

“Well… this is my first time writing something like this, so don’t expect too much,” Sakura said, turning her head away with a touch of pride.

“Even so, sharing the works we love with someone else always makes me happy.”

Jinguji Tsukihi was dumbfounded. Were these two junior high sweethearts or something?

Honestly, I really am the odd one out, aren’t I?

“Oh my—someone’s been staring at us nonstop since earlier,” Hoshinomori Hoshino propped her chin on her hand, the corners of her eyes crinkling in amusement as she glanced sidelong at Jinguji Tsukihi.

“I’m just curious—when did you two get so close?”

“So close?” Hoshinomori Hoshino tilted her head.

“Are you an idiot, Tsukihi? What makes you think we’re close?” Sakura Sakurako shot him a glare.

“Huh?”

Jinguji Tsukihi was completely lost. “Aren’t you two exchanging diaries?”

“We’re sharing our thoughts on the stories,” Hoshinomori Hoshino corrected him.

“How’s that any different from a diary?”

“Who in their right mind keeps a diary?”

Sakura Sakurako looked at him as if he were hopeless.

Jinguji Tsukihi had nothing to say, but Hoshinomori Hoshino looked mildly embarrassed—she did, in fact, keep one.