ch41-ch60 · 049-ch48

Chapter 48: Holiday in the Sun

　Saturday arrived in the blink of an eye. Clear skies today. So sunny it's almost a little hot.

　In the end, Thursday and Friday were both peaceful.

　No weird people showed up at Sumi's or Kiriko's places either.

　Yamanai-kun seemed fine too. According to Kiriko, he's been glancing over at me more often in class... really? Maybe he's just being cautious since I warned him about scary people coming.

　Oh, and Melkid, who'd been stuffed in my nap sack this whole time, was complaining about pain in his hips and shoulders. Does that stitched-up body even have a concept of stiffness?

　Anyway, today is the day we're all going to Papa's food truck.

　I'll be a customer today too. It's been so long since I went out with friends on a day off, so I put in a little extra effort and wore a plaid skirt. What, it's not short—it goes all the way to my knees.

　We're meeting at the station closest to the shopping district, but when I arrived ten minutes early, someone was already waiting.

"Rei-chan, you're early!"

"Ai-chan! Thank you so much for inviting me today!"

　Mikato folded up her parasol and bowed deeply. You don't need to do that for a friend.

　She was wearing a pale purple one-piece dress with a white, thin cardigan over it—very refined, proper young lady vibes. I never noticed at school since she always wears black tights, but her legs are so pale and slender and pretty. Better not show them, or Melkid the leg fetishist would go wild. He's in the nap sack on my back, by the way.

"I've never seen you in casual clothes before, Rei-chan. It really suits you. Beautiful!"

"N-no, not at all! Ai-chan, your lovely outfit really brings out your charm even more!"

　She complimented me with such fervent heat. I'm getting embarrassed.

"What's with you two blushing? First date or something?"

　Kiriko arrived five minutes before the meeting time. She's always cutting it close to being late at school, but days off are different.

　Kiriko's outfit was simple—jeans and a hoodie. Always prioritizing ease of movement, that one. She had a can badge of her favorite character on her hoodie.

"Oh my, what a cute character."

　When Mikato noticed the badge and mentioned it, Kiriko's face melted into the biggest smile I'd ever seen.

"Oh, ReiRei, you've got good taste! This is my absolute favorite, Chiaki-chan from 'Furusuko'!"

"Your favorite... it's a girl character, isn't it?"

"Yeah, yeah! I've got a real weakness for pitiful types, y'know~"

　Kiriko likes handsome guy characters too, but her absolute favorite are girl characters... the losing heroines.

　Apparently, it's not that she wants her favorite character's romance to succeed—it's that they lose that makes them good.

　When I asked, "How do you know if they'll win or lose before the end?" she said losing heroines have this inherent aura about them. I can't see it though.

　But apparently, on very rare occasions, the losing heroine you're rooting for actually wins. In those cases, after honestly celebrating the happy ending, she quietly graduates from being their fan. That's... quite a deep karma she's got there.

　Meanwhile, Kiriko kept passionately explaining Chiaki-chan's charms, and Mikato listened with great confusion but genuine attention. She's so earnest, after all.

　Maybe these two actually get along better than expected.

　As we were having this harmonious (?) moment, Sumi came running up three minutes late.

　Sumi being late is super rare.

"Sorry~ I ended up taking too long~"

"It's okay, we just got here... wait, you look amazing!?"

　Sumi wasn't wearing the mature outfit and makeup from her job the other day, but instead had gone for a girly fashion. A high-waisted, fluffy black flared skirt, a white blouse with fluttery lace, and a ribbon at the collar.

　Very "I'm a girl!" vibes, but her great figure keeps it from looking childish. Like a fashionable college student?

"I took too long picking out my clothes~ Is it weird? Does it work~?"

　For some reason Sumi seemed uneasy, but where's the unease in this outfit, you fashion queen.

　The effort I put in got blown away in an instant.

"It works, it works! No enemies wherever you go!"

"It suits you wonderfully~"

"Really~? Thank goodness~"

　Sumi's smiling face is dazzling.

　So dazzling that she's even drawing the attention of people at the station.

"...She's super cute, but she's starting to give off this aura that really hits my tastes, y'know~"

　Hey Kiriko, don't mutter something so ominous!

　That aura is limited to 2D, right? ...Right?