The One Who Ruins the Mood
“Yuuki-kun, good work at school. Nothing happened today, right?”
“Yes, I spent the whole day without anything in particular happening.”
Just as they had discussed yesterday, on the following day, Yume waited to walk Yuuki home from school.
“I am sorry. You must be busy with university, Yume-san.”
“I said it yesterday too, but it is alright. I am happy just to be able to go home with you, Yuuki-kun, and I do not think of it as a burden at all.”
Even though Yuuki had asked her thanks to her encouragement yesterday, he still felt apologetic.
In contrast, Yume did not find picking him up or walking him home burdensome in the slightest, just as she said. She truly was happy, and although it felt a little improper, she even thought of it as lucky that her time with Yuuki had increased. Of course, this was all rooted in her worry for him.
Yuuki and Yume began walking side by side toward the café, and when Yume sensed a slight heaviness in the air, she spoke up.
“By the way, Yuuki-kun.”
“What is it?”
“Do you remember when I asked if there was anywhere you wanted to go?”
“Ah, yes. I remember.”
Yuuki recalled that they had talked about that about a week ago and replied.
He had tried thinking about where he wanted to go, but in the end, he could not come up with any place he wanted to visit and kept putting it off.
Now, even as he thought about it again, the only place that came to mind was the place the three of them had gone recently.
“I tried thinking about where I wanted to go, but I could not think of anything after all.”
“That makes sense. It is hard when someone asks you so suddenly. As for me, there is somewhere I want to go. What do you think?”
Yume showed him her phone. Displayed on it was a place where they could enjoy beautiful waterfalls and nature.
“There is a quiet inn nearby where we can relax, and it is not that far from here, so I thought it might be nice.”
Watching Yuuki’s reaction, Yume made her suggestion.
Since Yuuki had no place he personally wanted to go and felt it would be fine as long as he could go somewhere Kyousuke or Yume wished to visit, he nodded honestly.
“I think it is good. It looks like we could relax.”
“I am glad. Then I will tell Dad that we should go here. Knowing him, he probably will not refuse, and he might even try to go next week or the week after.”
If it were for Yuuki or Yume, Kyousuke would make plans without thinking about his own convenience.
Imagining that, Yume gave a wry smile, and Yuuki looked slightly apologetic but still managed a small smile, easily picturing Kyousuke acting that way.
“Yuuki-kun.”
Into that peaceful space stepped someone who had no sense of tact.
Hearing the voice that called out from behind, Yuuki did not turn around, but Yume ended up doing so.
“Who is she? Are you alright? She did not do anything strange to you, did she?”
The person who said that was Shinjou Saya.
Yume immediately understood that this must be the person Yuuki had spoken about yesterday. Her guard rose at once, and she stood protectively in front of him.
“Yume-san, let us go. Paying attention to her is a waste.”
Yuuki also turned around, confirmed it was Saya, and spoke to Yume in a weary voice.
Seeing that, Saya briefly showed a sorrowful expression, then, for some reason, sent a suspicious look toward Yume.
“You are not doing anything strange to Yuuki-kun, are you?”
“It is alright. I am not like you.”
When Yume replied like that, Saya looked offended, but perhaps remembering what she had done to Yuuki, she made an expression that looked both frustrated and pained.
“Come on, Yuuki-kun. Let us go. Dad is probably waiting too.”
“Yes.”
Without looking back, Yuuki and Yume said that and headed toward the café.
The only one left behind was Saya.