Right after his words fell, a soft, warm voice interrupted their conversation with force.
"Brother, who are you talking to on the phone?"
Kouichirou was caught off guard. He said in a panic, "A-Asuna?! Why did you barge into my room without knocking!"
"Ara, that was indeed rude. But after hearing my name mentioned, I got curious and came in to check the situation. That shouldn't be a problem."
"Your ears are too sharp… No, don't act like that's normal! Get out, get out!"
"Alright, before I leave… You're talking to Tenkuji-kun."
"Eek!"
Startled by something, Kouichirou let out an embarrassing squeak. He forced out his dignity as an older brother: "So what? Alright, you can leave now."
Asuna seemed to still be standing at the door. Her voice grew softer:
"You're not planning to secretly tell him about that issue, are you?"
"…"
The sudden silence was so palpable that even Yuu could guess what he was thinking.
Asuna's tone turned cold: "Give me the phone."
"Why should I!"
"Why should I…" Asuna laughed. The pressure in her tone seemed to travel through the phone. "Those places kids can't go to?"
A suffocating silence, where even breathing couldn't be heard, lasted for a moment.
"…It's not like I'm giving in to you. I just suddenly want to look after my little sister."
"Mhm mhm, fine. Hurry up!"
Kouichirou sighed helplessly. His voice came closer again. He said to Yuu, "Sorry, my sister suddenly wants to talk to you."
"No problem. A guy submitting to his little sister isn't embarrassing." Having roughly grasped the situation, Yuu comforted him gently.
For some reason, Yuigahama's gaze beside him turned a bit strange.
"Huhu, you're the warmest, buddy." Kouichirou pretended to sob a few times. Soon after, the familiar soft voice of a girl came through.
"Tenkuji-kun, long time no see."
Yuu's expression didn't change: "Long time no see, Yuuki-san."
Yuigahama blinked, tilting her head. She muttered curiously, "Yuuki-san? Not the otaku college student?"
Yuu glanced at her. He rubbed the dango hairstyle on her head with his palm: "Didn't I say earlier? Asuna's older brother is my friend. It's just a change in who's on the phone."
"Oh, right… Hehe."
Nodding in understanding, Yuigahama smiled with slight embarrassment. Then she consciously kept her distance—though doing so now seemed a bit late, Yuu didn't mind. He wasn't going to say anything embarrassing anyway. Whether she eavesdropped was up to her.
As he thought this, a flash of realization hit him.
(…Wait, Haruno already regained her memories. Could Asuna have too?!)
Yuu's pupils shrank. He held his breath, his heartbeat quickening unconsciously.
Before Yuigahama could notice his odd reaction, he quickly calmed himself and lowered the call volume.
"Sorry for interrupting your chat with my brother." The polite, distant tone made Yuu slightly relieved. "I think I heard Yuigahama-san's voice just now. Is she with you?"
"Yeah. We just finished after-school activities and are heading home together." Yuu paused, then said casually, "We're dating, by the way."
"…"
Though a bit confused, Yuigahama genuinely showed a joyful, sweet smile. Her round cheeks flushed.
Their shoulders drew close again. Her fingers, like a little sparrow seeking a nest, gently hooked onto his.
After a brief silence on the phone, the reaction wasn't very enthusiastic. Asuna only replied softly, as if thinking: "I see. That's unexpected… Congratulations on your relationship."
"Thanks. I'll remember to send you a wedding invitation when the day comes." Yuu joked.
"You're only in your second year of high school. Thinking that far ahead." Asuna laughed softly. Her voice showed no emotion. She quickly changed the topic: "I'll be coming to Chiba soon. How about we hang out again? Me, you, Yuigahama-san, and Yukinoshita-san."
"No problem. I'll let Yukinoshita know. We'll make a group chat later and figure out everyone's free time."
"Mhm, sounds good then."
Then Asuna hung up, as if unwilling to say another word to him.
Yuu didn't care how Kouichirou was feeling now. After the call ended, he slipped his phone into his pocket and looked at Yuigahama beside him.
"You were eavesdropping."
"No. What were you talking about?" Something soft and round pressed against his arm. Yuigahama averted her gaze, her face flushed. Her guilty expression was obvious.
Yuu chuckled and pinched her cheek: "Talking on the phone with another girl, maintaining transparency is a boyfriend's responsibility. I almost put it on speaker so you could join in. Small things like this don't need to be worried about."
Yuigahama sighed in relief. Then she said in a low, slightly worried tone: "But, even though we're not really dating, is it okay to do this?"
"What?"
"Claiming ownership, acting like a couple, and stuff…" Her round, bright eyes looked at him. Yuigahama seemed to want confirmation. She stared straight into his eyes. "Yuu-kun, what are you really thinking? If you really want to date me…"
"If I confessed to you right now, would you accept it?" Cutting her off, Yuu asked with a smile.
Yuigahama thought for a moment, then shook her head: "I feel like it wouldn't be a confession out of genuine love. That makes me a bit upset."
"I do like you. If I didn't, I wouldn't care so much about your feelings." Yuu looked at the road ahead. He spoke casually.
"I want to date you, but I feel like something's missing… In the end, it can only be this half-hearted approach. Establish the relationship first, then slowly fill in what's missing later."
Yuigahama muttered, pondering. Then she interrupted with one sentence: "You mean, get on the train first, then buy the ticket?"
"Is that not allowed?"
"…I don't know how to answer that question either."
Yuigahama sighed in frustration. Her fingers, dangling at her side, went from hooking to grasping, then tightly interlocking with his.
"Honestly, I'm understanding less and less what Yuu-kun is thinking… Even though you're right beside me, I feel you're getting more distant, like you're carrying a lot of heavy burdens."
"You seem to smile and be honest, but you're more insincere than anyone."
Yuu looked at her blankly for a moment. Then he pursed his lips and gazed at the sky.
The winter breeze blew through the gap between them. Dry branches swayed under the dim twilight. Occasionally, a crow flew by.
"Maybe."
"If you don't say anything, I won't know how to help you."
Her warm, soft palm tightened slightly. Yuigahama lowered her head. As if wanting to clear all the confusion in their hearts, she took a deep breath and said firmly:
"But I'll always be by your side!"
"Just like you helped me through tough times studying before. No matter what Yuu-kun is worried about, no matter what problems are holding you back, no matter what you're considering… I, Yui, will always be by your side. When you don't know who to complain to or vent your frustrations to, I'll be your shoulder to lean on."
As if breaking the shackles in her heart, she suddenly let out a small laugh. She looked up high, gazing in the same direction as him.
"Even if we don't end up dating."
"Just because I like you, I can do all this."