Vol. 1 – Extra: Hinata-chan Is

The next day, I went outside, my body temperature rising on its own as I recalled last night’s events, and there was my childhood friend, smiling as usual.

“Morning! Yuuto!” (Akari)

“…Morning.” (Yuuto)

Where had yesterday’s anxious face gone? If anything, she seemed even more cheerful than usual.

“Thanks for carrying me yesterday! Mom and Dad told me.” (Akari)

Akari said as we boarded the elevator, which, unlike usual, opened immediately.

“Yesterday, I was just feeling kinda anxious, you know? Like Yuuto was changing more and more.” (Akari)

Akari murmured, leaning her back against the wall in the descending elevator.

“…That’s not true, is it?” (Yuuto)

How did Akari see me? I couldn’t notice changes in myself.

“No, you are changing.” (Akari)

She said, a small smile on her face, her words tinged with a slight sadness.

“But I realized it’s okay.” (Akari)

Akari smiled happily as she stepped through the automatic doors at the elevator exit, bathed in the sunlight.

“Because I realized that Yuuto liking me hasn’t changed.” (Akari)

My childhood friend walked ahead, humming. The scent of lavender, carried on a light breeze, reminded me of yesterday’s events.

When I went to school as usual, there were a few people sending curious glances my way, but no one approached me to talk.

Since Nagisa wasn’t at school due to work, it was fortunate that I didn’t run into her at lunchtime. She probably would have been incredibly bothered by the surrounding gazes and speculations.

After school ended without incident, I met up with my childhood friend at the usual spot and went home.

And after dinner, Akari came over to play, and we played games. I neither stopped her nor joined in, just killed time doing my own thing.

After a while, Nagisa also came over after work, and she would read manga while occasionally commenting on Akari’s game screen.

A life that even I could consider fulfilling. This space felt somehow comfortable.

Akari, who had apparently lost a match, dived into Nagisa’s chest, wanting to be comforted.

Watching the two of them playfully wrestling, Nagisa accepting it with an expression that was half-annoyed, half-pleased, I suddenly remembered something.

“Come to think of it… I forgot to tell Murai-san.” (Yuuto)

Akari, who had been pressing her face into Nagisa’s stomach, lifted her head slightly and sent a gaze my way.

“About whaat?” (Akari)

“About Dad. I told Nagisa and Aida, you know. During the exam.” (Yuuto)

Akari’s gaze shifted from me to Nagisa, and Nagisa, receiving that gaze, nodded in affirmation.

Seeing that, Akari turned her gaze back to me and let out an exaggeratedly large sigh.

“Aww, man. One of my childhood friend privileges is gone…” (Akari)

“Think of it as gaining more friends to share secrets with…” (Yuuto)

When I said that in an exasperated tone to my childhood friend, who was dramatically slumping her shoulders, Akari laughed lightly and said, “Just kidding.”

“Besides, I still have 99 childhood friend privileges left!” (Akari)

Akari said with a determined look, but being told that while she was hugging Nagisa and burying her face in her stomach, it only sounded like a joke.

When I ignored it and dropped my gaze to the novel in my hand, I heard a dissatisfied “Moo…” sound.

“Oh, and I don’t think you should tell Hinata-chan.” (Akari)

Akari said, detaching herself from Nagisa and standing up.

“She’d probably say something like, ‘Please don’t tell me such a big secret!'” (Akari)

Akari said, changing her tone of voice. If that was an impression of Murai, the quality wasn’t even 30%.

However, it seemed that quality hit Nagisa’s funny bone, and she burst out laughing.

After laughing for a few seconds, she wiped away tears and began to speak, “But,”

“It’s true, Hinata might say something like that.” (Nagisa)

“Well, if Nagisa says so too, then I guess so.” (Yuuto)

Impersonation aside, if the two who were close to Murai said so, it was probably better not to tell her.

Aida was also a bit troubled by the weight of the secret, and depending on one’s personality, it could be genuinely difficult.

Akari returned to her game. Nagisa, looking at her manga, let out small chuckles as she remembered what had just happened.

Living such everyday lives, we plunged into summer vacation.