Akane Hayasaka was talking to Sakai in a coffee shop. They talked about where they were going for their summer vacation and other trivial things.
-Akane, can you drink black coffee?
-Yes, well, I’m trying to get used to the taste.
-How strange, you used to only drink tea…. Who influenced you…?
Saki raises an eyebrow after saying these words and Akane continues to put two sugar cubes into her coffee.
-I never imagined that Tachibana-san and Yanagi-senpai were engaged.
-Yes. I was very surprised when I heard about it. I heard it was a mutual decision between their parents.
-Akane, what do you plan to do?
-Me? I plan to continue. I won’t give up on him… Even if they’re engaged.
-Well, I don’t think you should be in a hurry to decide who to marry. And I think it’s wrong for families to force their children to get engaged. Besides, if you and Yanagi-senpai are happy, that means Kirishima-kun will be happy too.
-Huh? Do you know that?
-Yes, I know.
-I see… even from Aya-chan’s point of view, Kirishima-kun likes Tachibana-san.
-Then I have to make an effort. If I succeed, Tachibana-san will be free of this obligation, and she can be with Kirishima-kun, right? Kirishima-kun… He… Will he be happy? I have to be a good girl for Kirishima-kun.
-Hey, Akane…
-Huh?
-No, nothing, it doesn’t matter. So, are you going to summer camp?
-Yes, I’m going. Aya-chan was invited too, right?
-Yes, Maki asked me to perform for him.
-Oh, then we’ll all go together, it’ll be fun.
-Sure.
Sakai lowers her eyes and thinks for a while before continuing the conversation.
-I’m worried, but I’m surprised that Yanagi and Kirishima are friends.
-Yes, it’s amazing that they are such good friends.
Akane happily tells the story of how Kirishima almost drowned in the river.
-Kirishima-kun is amazing. He’s kind and brave. He pretends to be smart, but he’s not. But he has many weaknesses that make him likeable. And then…
-Akane.
-… Who are you really in love with?
-With Yanagi-senpai, of course.
-What do you like about Yanagi?
-I don’t know… Many things. The feeling that he’s a boy who works hard when he plays soccer, how gentle he is, how well people like him, how reliable he becomes. Don’t you think the same when you see him…?
Hayasaka-san stops talking and goes blank? Then he blinks several times and opens his mouth again.
-Um, Yanagi-senpai… the reason I like him? Uh, I guess I haven’t recovered from my flu yet… Anyway, I like him a lot and I have to do my best….
