“Nice to meet you, I’m Natsumi Osada, the president of the Photo Club!”
Wednesday after school.
In the school studio, a small first-year girl with a camera hanging from her neck showed a friendly smile.
With her short, dark brown hair and large, impressive eyes, I felt like I might have passed this kouhai in the hallways a few times, but this was likely our first time actually speaking.
“I’m Konuma. Nice to meet you.”
“I’m Hasu.”
“Yes, I look forward to working with you!”
Seeing how she replied cheerfully even to Sako’s blunt greeting, she seemed to have a good personality...
“Well, Takuto is pretty blunt himself...”
I elegantly ignored the retort coming from the side. Please stop reading my mind.
“Why do you and Ichikawa-san know each other, Yurisuke?”
“We were... in the... Pre... sident... Meeting... together, so that’s how we know each other.”
Yeah, you managed to say 'President Meeting' well, former president Azuma...
“Oh, but I went to see your live during the school festival, so I already knew about Konuma-senpai and Hasu-senpai! Even if it was just one-sidedly.”
“Heh, you came to watch?”
“Yes, the live was incredibly good...! Especially the 'Rock-On' at the school festival, it was wonderful. I’m not just being polite; that song gave me the push I needed to work hard myself.”
“Really? I’m so happy!”
Amane smiled brightly.
I don’t know what she worked hard at, but if it was a song that pushed her forward, it was probably 'My Song.' That one really is great...
As for me, if that live had even a slight influence on someone's life, I could say it makes everything worth it as a performer.
As I was getting sentimental on my own, Osada-san raised her hand slightly and asked a question hesitantly.
“Um, I’m not sure if it’s okay to ask this just out of curiosity, but Konuma-senpai and Hasu-senpai are childhood friends, right?”
“Yeah, we are.”
Sako answered almost before she finished.
“How did you know that?”
“I heard it from Tsubame Taira-san! We’re in the same class!”
“Hoh...”
It’s not like it’s a problem to be known, but why is Taira-chan specifically telling her classmates that? I didn't think Sako and I were objects of her worship...
“So, what if Takuto and I are childhood friends?”
Sako asked while pointedly re-adjusting her hairpins.
“Y-Yes! Well...”
“Ah, Osada-san, her way of talking is just like this naturally. It doesn't mean she's angry or anything, so it's okay. If anything, she's actually kind of smiling right now.”
Since Osada-san’s face seemed to stiffen at the blonde senpai’s intimidating attitude, I explained. Then, her large eyes snapped wide open and began to sparkle even more.
“Wow... it’s the real thing...! Konuma-senpai can understand Hasu-senpai’s expressions. As expected, you're perfectly in sync...!”
Why is she so happy...? And what does she mean by 'the real thing'?
“It seems my Childhood Friend Sensor wasn't wrong after all...! I’ve been wanting to interview you two once about your views on childhood friends.”
“Childhood Friend Sensor? Views on childhood friends? What’s that? Is that even proper Japanese?”
“Ah, if that’s the case, we almost disbanded once over differences in our musical tastes.”
“Wait, Sako, what are you even saying?”
“Eh, is that true? Could I hear more about that...?”
Sako answered with a millisecond-long smug face while Osada-san leaned in with incredible intensity. What is this person, the editor-in-chief of 'Monthly Childhood Friend' or something...?
“Natsumi-chan, are you interested in childhood friends?”
Amane asked with a strained smile. Are you an elementary school teacher?
“Wawa, sorry, I ended up showing you something strange...”
Perhaps thinking she was being scolded by Amane, she fiddled with her hair and reflected on her behavior.
“I’m sorry, let me explain or rather justify myself. Actually, there’s a manga that changed my life recently, and it’s about childhood friends. The title is 'I Fell in Love Once More.'...”
“”Ah, the one Yuzu was reading.””
“Wow, you harmonized again! As expected of childhood friends...!”
“Muuu...”
Amane puffed out her cheeks.
“Guhehe...! ...By the way, is Natsumi-chan alone today? There was a boy with you during the Instrumental Club shoot.”
Yuri-nee-san, you’re acting like the only sane person here, but I didn’t miss the 'guhehe' you let out while looking at amane-sama’s face.
“Ah, yes. My childhood friend had some business today, so he went home.”
“”Wait, you have a childhood friend?!””
Sako and my retorts overlapped again at Osada-san’s casual remark.
“Even your retorts are perfectly synchronized. Amazing...!”
“Hey, Konuma-kun, Sako-san, are you doing that on purpose...?”
“If we could do it on purpose, wouldn't that just mean it's the real thing?”
While Amane looked at us with a flat gaze, Sako sent her a smug sidelong glance.
“T-That’s sound logic...”
“Sakohasu, leave it at that. Amane’s HP is already at zero...”
Yuri hugged Amane’s shoulders and gave a bitter smile.
“If there’s anything else you want to know about me and Takuto, feel free to ask.”
Sakosh puffed out her chest toward Osada-san. You sure look like you're having fun...
Osada-san then happily followed up with more questions.
“As I thought, do childhood friends call each other by their given names?”
“That’s right. In our case, only we childhood friends call each other by our first names without honorifics.”
“Sakohasu, that’s seriously something you shouldn't touch upon...”
Beside Yuri’s warning, Amane began a fierce protest.
“That’s Konuma-kun’s fault, you know?! Even I, even I...!”
“Yeah, maybe it is Takuto’s fault. But regarding how we call each other, that’s just the fact. Accept it.”
“Uuu...!”
Amane was on the verge of tears while Sako maintained a cool (and smug-looking) face.
Looking at the two of them, Yuri-nee-san had an exasperated look.
“This exchange feels like a classic harem rom-com... I really hate being stuck in the middle of this... or rather, it's impossible for me...”
What are you even talking about...?
“Sako-san, why do you always take away all the 'firsts' and 'beginnings' like that...?!”
“I don't think Amane-san, who takes away the 'ending,' has any right to say that.”
“Um, you two...?”
Unable to watch the exchange that was confusing our kouhai any longer,
“Okay, okay, that’s enough. Make up, you two.”
Mother Yuri clapped her hands together.
“”Yes...“”
The two obediently followed her. Mothers are strong...
“Who are you calling a mother?”
“I’m sorry, somehow it’s all because of me...”
Osada-san gave a bitter smile and scratched her head.
“E-Err, so, how should we take the artist photos?”
“””Ah, that’s right...”””
“Don’t say 'that’s right'...”
Right, that was exactly why we had called Osada-san here in the first place...