Episode 2

I check my appearance for what must be the thirtieth time and give a firm nod. The person in the mirror has a stiff expression and hands gripped rather too tightly — but it’ll be fine. Surely.

I woke up four hours before leaving the house, settled my nerves with a favourite cup of tea, and slipped on the dress I’d settled on as my outfit for the day. Did my make-up carefully and slowly, ran the iron through my hair for the first time in a while, then used what time was left to check the route to the meeting place one more time.

Looking back over all of it, it sounds like everything went perfectly — but in reality I couldn’t taste the tea at all, and I spilled the hot water and spent the morning in a flap. The make-up and hair I did more carefully than usual, but I stood in front of the mirror over and over wondering whether this was really all right.

It’s not as if seeing Seriha is something out of the ordinary, and we’re well past the stage of being nervous around each other. And yet since she invited me, I haven’t been able to sit still for even a moment.

All of which is entirely her fault for barely speaking to me this whole week. If we’d gone to lunch or even had a quick chat somewhere, I wouldn’t have been in such a state.

When she sees my cutest self at the meeting place and looks startled, I’m going to give her a piece of my mind first thing.

Cutest… probably. Right?

◇

We’d arranged to meet at eleven. I’d planned to arrive five minutes early — and ended up there fifteen minutes early. I’ve changed trains here before, but this is the first time I’ve actually walked around the area. It’s a busy terminal station on a weekend, and I feel like I might get swallowed up by the crowd.

I open her message even though I’ve already read it over and over, and check once more that I have the right meeting spot.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. Senpai.”

I look up at the sound of her voice — that pleasantly musical tone I’d been wanting to hear all week.

A week of barely speaking to me. The heat of the wait. I had a whole list of grievances ready.

I turned toward the voice — and Seriha’s appearance took my eyes entirely.

Cute, or beautiful?

Just a light summer knit with a long skirt, a simple look, and yet I couldn’t look away. She was somewhere in the crowd and yet somehow everyone else had disappeared.

“Senpai, are you all right~?”

Her voice reached me again and I came back to myself. This drifting feeling — was it the heat?

“Oh — good morning. You looked so cute, I was startled.”

My voice came out higher than intended. I looked away before she could see the grin I couldn’t suppress — but she’d already seen it, I was sure.

Her already-sparkling eyes seemed to brighten even further, and then she pulled me close.

“Senpaaai! You’re so much cuter! You’re the cutest! Absolutely no question!”

“I’m glad… though I think you’re the cuter one.”

All the grievances I’d been preparing — they all stopped mattering entirely. Pathetic, how easily I come undone.

Being held like this felt wonderful and I didn’t want to let go — but summer was nearly on us, and the heat decisively won out.

◇

“First we’ll do a slightly early lunch. I’ve booked somewhere nice, so look forward to it.”

We walk side by side through the crowd. She’s planned everything for today, so all I have to do is follow along. She could let me help just a little.

“Same as with the celebration dinner — thank you for taking care of everything. Next time, I’d like it if you let me handle things.”

I don’t know what makes a good date, but spending time thinking about it for her didn’t sound bad at all.

“Next time… did you say? Senpai, that was a good thing to say!”

Ah.

“That’s right, next time. Look forward to a sophisticated date, planned by me.”

I made myself say it lightly, on purpose. My feelings had run ahead of me.

“Ooh, setting the bar high~ I’ll be looking forward to it!”

“I’m leaving the sophisticated date entirely in your hands, senpai — so for today I’ve gone with the most thoroughly ordinary course imaginable.”

“Have you been looking forward to it?”

She glances over at me as we walk. Her hair is softer and fluffier than usual today, and it suits her.

“…Yeah. I’ve been looking forward to it so much, so if it’s boring I’ll be furious.”

We cross the road laughing, facing each other.

Whatever happens — just being with Seriha when she’s smiling, today was going to be a good day. I could feel it in the lightness in my step.