The automatic doors slid open behind us with a soft hiss.
A cool gust of air escaped from the aquarium before disappearing into the warmth of the early evening.
The sun had already begun its slow descent, painting the western sky with streaks of orange and pale pink. Families drifted toward the parking lot, children happily clutching dolphin plushies or penguin balloons while their parents carried souvenir bags filled to the brim.
For a brief moment, the six of us simply stood there.
It was strange.
The aquarium had been filled with lively conversations all day, yet now a comfortable silence settled over us.
The kind of silence that only came after spending hours together.
"...That was fun."
Shiori was the first to break it.
She turned around for one last look at the enormous building, her lips curling into a small smile.
"I didn't realize how much time had passed."
"Time always disappears in places like that," Miyu replied, stretching her arms above her head. "You go in thinking it'll only take an hour, and suddenly the sun's setting."
"I blame the jellyfish exhibit," Kiyoyama said with a solemn nod. "Those things hypnotized me."
Amane adjusted the strap of his bag.
"You spent twenty minutes trying to convince a jellyfish that it looked like an anime character."
"It did."
"It was a jellyfish."
"It had protagonist energy."
"..."
Nobody knew how to respond to that.
Kanon let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head.
"I still don't understand how your brain works."
"Neither do I."
"That's... surprisingly honest."
"I've accepted myself."
"You gave up."
"I embraced my individuality."
"You definitely gave up."
Their exchange drew another round of laughter from the group.
Watching everyone joke around so naturally, I couldn't help smiling to myself.
Somehow, the atmosphere felt lighter than it had been this morning.
When we'd first arrived, Shiori had been a little reserved.
Now she laughed without hesitation.
Miyu slipped into conversations as though she'd never been away.
Even Amane, who usually kept his comments to a minimum, had spoken more than usual today.
Maybe...
This was what people meant when they talked about making memories.
Not grand, unforgettable events.
Just ordinary moments that quietly became precious before you realized it.
"So..."
Kiyoyama suddenly stopped walking.
His expression turned unusually serious.
Too serious.
I immediately felt suspicious.
"I have an announcement."
Amane sighed.
"Here we go."
"I've reached my limit."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"I'm starving."
"There it is," I muttered.
"I was wondering how long it'd take," Kanon added.
Kiyoyama ignored us completely, clutching his stomach with exaggerated despair.
"My body has consumed every last bit of energy."
"You had popcorn an hour ago," Amane reminded him.
"A mere appetizer."
"You also ate a hot dog."
"A warm-up."
"And half of my fries."
"You weren't eating them fast enough."
"I was talking."
"Exactly."
Amane closed his eyes for a moment before letting out a defeated sigh.
"I walked into that one."
Shiori covered her mouth, trying to suppress a laugh.
"You two really argue about everything."
"We don't argue," Amane replied.
"I educate him."
"I reject his education."
"I noticed."
Miyu chuckled.
"Well... I'm getting hungry too."
"Same here," Kanon agreed, resting a hand lightly against her stomach. "Walking around all day really works up an appetite."
Kiyoyama immediately pointed at me.
"Yuuma."
"What?"
"You live here."
"I do."
"So you're our guide."
"...To?"
"Food."
I looked around.
"There are at least 3 restaurants within walking distance."
"Excellent."
"...That doesn't narrow anything down."
"It narrows it down to food."
I rubbed my forehead.
"You're impossible."
"So I've been told."
"Repeatedly."
Kanon stepped forward before our conversation could spiral any further.
"There's a family restaurant about five minutes from here."
She looked toward the road ahead.
"We used to stop there after middle school club activities sometimes."
I blinked.
"...Right."
Now that she mentioned it...
We had.
It wasn't often.
Just once in a while, when everyone had stayed late preparing for a festival or cleaning up after an event.
Back then...
The group had been smaller.
Just the two of us and a few classmates dropping in before heading home.
Funny.
I hadn't thought about that in years.
"You remembered?" Kanon asked.
"Hm?"
"That place."
"...Yeah."
A small smile found its way onto my face.
"I completely forgot until you mentioned it."
For some reason...
Kanon smiled too.
Not the playful grin she usually wore when teasing me.
This one was softer.
Almost nostalgic.
"I'm glad."
The words were quiet.
Barely louder than the passing traffic.
Yet somehow...
They lingered in my mind longer than they should have.
"Then it's decided!" Miyu clapped her hands together. "Lead the way."
The restaurant was only a few streets away.
The evening breeze carried the scent of nearby trees, occasionally mixing with the aroma of food drifting from cafés lining the road.
Streetlights flickered on one after another as daylight slowly faded.
The city seemed to slow with the setting sun.
Our group naturally split into smaller conversations.
Shiori walked beside Miyu, asking about junior high school memories.
Kiyoyama continued passionately explaining why jellyfish deserved to be anime protagonists.
Amane looked only half interested.
"...So then the jellyfish sacrifices itself in episode twelve."
"It doesn't even have bones."
"Exactly."
"I don't see how that's related."
"It symbolizes fragility."
"It symbolizes a jellyfish."
"...You're impossible to impress."
"I have standards."
A laugh escaped me.
Those two really were entertaining.
As I looked away from them...
I noticed Kanon had slowed her pace.
She was now walking beside me.
Neither of us had done it intentionally.
It had simply... happened.
For a while, we walked in silence.
Not awkward.
Just quiet.
The sounds of our friends chatting ahead filled the space between us.
Kanon glanced toward the sky.
"The weather turned out nice."
"It did."
"I was worried it'd rain."
"Same."
"..."
Another small silence.
She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear as the breeze passed by.
"I had fun today."
Her voice carried an easy warmth.
"So did I."
"I wasn't sure how it'd go."
"Hm?"
"Inviting everyone."
She smiled faintly.
"I thought maybe it'd feel awkward."
I shook my head.
"Not once."
"...Really?"
"Yeah."
I looked ahead at the others.
Shiori laughing.
Miyu listening with an amused smile.
Kiyoyama passionately defending fictional jellyfish.
Amane looking exhausted.
"They fit together surprisingly well."
Kanon followed my gaze.
"...They do."
A quiet chuckle escaped her.
"I was especially worried about Shiori."
"Because she's still getting used to everyone?"
She nodded.
"But..."
Her eyes softened.
"...Seeing her laugh like that makes me happy."
I found myself smiling.
"That's very you."
She tilted her head.
"What does that mean?"
"You worry about everyone."
"I do not."
"You do."
"I simply pay attention."
"Same thing."
"It isn't."
"It is."
She lightly bumped her shoulder against mine.
"You're annoying."
"Thank you."
"...That wasn't a compliment."
"I'll take it as one."
She rolled her eyes.
Yet...
A tiny laugh escaped her anyway.
The sound was light.
Gentle.
Without thinking, I looked toward her.
She noticed.
"Hm?"
"...Nothing."
"What?"
I hesitated.
Then answered honestly.
"...You laugh more now."
For a brief moment...
She looked genuinely surprised.
"I do?"
"Yeah."
"Compared to when?"
"When we first started high school."
Her expression gradually softened.
"I guess..."
She looked ahead again.
"...I've just been happier lately."
The answer was simple.
Casual.
Almost absent-minded.
Yet...
For reasons I couldn't explain...
My heartbeat stumbled.
"H-Hey!"
Kiyoyama suddenly turned around while walking backward.
"You two!"
"What?"
"Hurry up!"
"We're leaving the lovebirds behind!"
Kanon froze.
"..."
"..."
"...H-Huh?!"
Her entire face flushed crimson.
"W-What are you talking about?!"
Kiyoyama blinked.
"You've been walking fifty meters behind us."
"That's because—"
She stopped herself.
"...Because..."
No explanation came.
Miyu glanced over her shoulder.
Her eyes shifted between the two of us.
Then...
A knowing smile appeared.
"Oh?"
"M-Miyu, don't 'oh' me!"
"I'm not saying anything."
"Your face is saying plenty!"
"I have no idea what you mean."
"You absolutely do!"
Shiori looked between them, clearly trying to understand what was happening.
Amane simply sighed.
"Kiyoyama."
"What?"
"Keep walking."
"...Okay."
The moment passed as quickly as it had begun.
Still...
As we caught up with the others, I noticed something from the corner of my eye.
Kanon...
Hadn't quite recovered.
The tips of her ears remained faintly red.
And for the rest of the walk...
Whenever our shoulders brushed by accident...
She quietly shifted half a step away.
Only to drift back beside me again a few moments later, as naturally as breathing.
...
The family restaurant came into view just ahead, its warm lights glowing invitingly through the large front windows.
The smell of freshly grilled food drifted outside every time the entrance door opened.
Kiyoyama practically stopped in his tracks.
His eyes sparkled.
"...I think..."
He placed a hand dramatically over his chest.
"...I've found paradise."
Amane didn't even look at him.
"You say that every time food is involved."
"Because I'm consistently correct."
The automatic door slid open.
Warm air greeted us immediately.
Along with the comforting aroma of butter, grilled meat, and freshly baked bread.
The hostess led us through the restaurant with a practiced smile.
"Right this way."
The dinner crowd had already begun to fill the dining area. Families chatted over sizzling plates, couples shared desserts by the windows, and the occasional burst of laughter rose above the soft music playing overhead.
Compared to the lively atmosphere outside the aquarium, this place felt... warmer.
We were guided to a spacious booth near the window.
"Please enjoy your meal."
The hostess handed each of us a menu before walking away.
Almost immediately, everyone fell silent.
"..."
"..."
"..."
The only sounds were pages turning and the occasional thoughtful hum.
Kiyoyama frowned.
"Why is choosing food so difficult?"
Amane didn't even look up from his menu.
"Because you're trying to decide between three meals."
"I'm trying to decide between six."
"You only have one stomach."
"I have dreams."
"I don't think those are related."
"I refuse to let biology limit my ambitions."
Miyu let out a quiet giggle.
"You never change."
"I choose to believe that's a compliment."
"It wasn't."
"I'll accept it anyway."
Across from me, Shiori stared at the menu with an expression somewhere between fascination and panic.
"So many..."
She traced a finger down the page.
"I don't even know where to start."
Miyu leaned over slightly.
"The omelet rice here is good."
"Really?"
"And their gratin."
"Ooh..."
"But the pasta isn't bad either."
Shiori's eyes widened.
"That doesn't help."
"It wasn't supposed to."
The two girls laughed together.
Meanwhile...
I looked up from my menu.
Kanon was reading hers with complete concentration.
Her eyebrows knitted together ever so slightly.
Every now and then, she'd turn a page.
Pause.
Then return to the previous one.
"..."
A familiar sight.
I smiled to myself.
"You still do that."
She glanced up.
"Do what?"
"Spend five minutes pretending to decide."
"I am deciding."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"And what are you going to order?"
She answered without missing a beat.
"Hamburger steak."
"..."
"..."
I couldn't stop the laugh that escaped.
"I knew it."
She puffed out her cheeks.
"I looked at the menu first."
"You always do."
"So?"
"You've been ordering the same thing since we were kids."
"Because it's good."
"You don't even give the other meals a chance."
"They've had plenty of chances."
"They haven't."
"They know what they did."
"What does that even mean?"
She folded her menu with a small huff.
"It means I like hamburger steak."
"Your loyalty is admirable."
"My taste buds appreciate consistency."
"They're afraid of change."
"They're refined."
I rested my chin against my hand.
"Stubborn."
"Reliable."
"Predictable."
"Trustworthy."
"I don't think that's how adjectives work."
She narrowed her eyes before lightly kicking my shin beneath the table.
"...Ow."
"That one was intentional."
"I could tell."
"You deserved it."
Across the table, Miyu quietly watched the exchange unfold.
Her smile gradually widened.
"...You know."
Kanon immediately looked at her.
"...What?"
"You two have been talking for almost three minutes."
"So?"
"Neither of you has looked at your menu."
"..."
"..."
Without realizing it...
Both Kanon and I glanced down at our unopened menus.
"..."
"..."
Kiyoyama leaned over dramatically.
"Oh."
"Oh?" I repeated.
"Oh."
"What does 'oh' mean?"
He pointed between us.
"You've entered your own little world."
"We have not."
"You absolutely have."
Amane took a sip of water.
"I stopped listening halfway through."
"You see?" Kiyoyama spread his arms triumphantly. "Even Amane noticed."
"I noticed because you wouldn't stop talking."
"...Close enough."
The waitress arrived before the conversation could continue.
"Have you decided?"
One by one, everyone placed their orders.
Shiori chose the gratin after much deliberation.
Miyu ordered seafood pasta.
Amane went with curry.
Kiyoyama somehow convinced himself that ordering the largest steak on the menu was financially responsible.
When it was Kanon's turn...
"Hamburger steak, please."
I bit my lip.
She caught me.
"...Don't."
"I'm not saying anything."
"You have that face."
"What face?"
"The one that says 'I told you so.'"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"You absolutely do."
The waitress turned toward me.
"And for you?"
"I'll have the grilled chicken."
She nodded before collecting the menus.
"We'll have those out shortly."
As she disappeared toward the kitchen, the conversation naturally drifted elsewhere.
Miyu rested her elbows lightly on the table.
"So..."
She looked at me.
"Yuuma."
"Hm?"
"I noticed something earlier."
"...I don't like where this is going."
She ignored me completely.
"You remembered the sea otter mascot."
"I did."
"And the summer festival."
"Yeah."
She tilted her head curiously.
"You remember quite a lot about your childhood with Kanon."
Before I could answer...
Kiyoyama beat me to it.
"Of course he does."
"Hm?"
"They were together all the time."
"I wasn't asking you."
"I answer questions free of charge."
"No refunds either," Amane added.
Miyu smiled.
"What about you, Kanon?"
"Hm?"
"Do you remember a lot too?"
Kanon blinked once.
Then twice.
"As much as he does?"
She thought for a moment.
"...Probably."
"Really?"
She nodded.
"I mean..."
A faint smile appeared.
"...We've known each other for almost our whole lives."
There wasn't an ounce of hesitation in her voice.
She simply stated it as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"I remember when he broke his arm trying to jump off the neighborhood swing."
"..."
Everyone looked at me.
"...You don't have to tell them that."
"You insisted you could fly."
"I was six."
"You said gravity was optional."
"I was six."
"You cried."
"I WAS SIX."
The entire table erupted into laughter.
Even the customers at the neighboring booth glanced over for a second.
Shiori laughed so hard she had to wipe the corner of her eye.
"I... I can't imagine Yuuma saying that."
"I was an ambitious child."
"You were an idiot," Kanon corrected, laughing.
"I prefer 'adventurous.'"
"You jumped because you thought superheroes didn't get hurt."
"..."
"..."
"...That was classified information."
"I've known it for over ten years."
"I expected better from you."
"You shouldn't have."
She smiled so brightly that, for a moment...
I forgot everyone else was there.
It wasn't an especially elegant smile.
Or a graceful one.
She laughed with her whole face.
Her eyes curved gently.
Her shoulders relaxed.
The corners of her lips lifted without restraint.
Somehow...
Seeing that expression made the restaurant seem just a little warmer.
"...Yuuma?"
"Hm?"
Miyu's voice pulled me back.
"You've been staring."
"..."
"..."
"...What?"
Kanon's laughter stopped.
"..."
She slowly turned toward me.
"...Were you?"
"I..."
For once...
Words failed me.
"I was just..."
Trying to think of an excuse.
Any excuse.
"...Remembering."
The answer slipped out before I could stop it.
Kanon blinked.
"Remembering?"
"The swing."
"..."
"..."
"...And how loud you laughed when I landed in the bushes."
A brief silence followed.
Then...
A surprisingly gentle smile spread across Kanon's face.
"...You looked really funny."
"I had a broken arm."
"You also had leaves in your hair."
"I was suffering."
"You looked like a very determined scarecrow."
"..."
I couldn't help laughing.
"...Okay."
"I deserved that."
She smiled triumphantly.
"I know."
For just a second...
Our eyes met again.
Neither of us said anything.
We didn't need to.
The memory belonged to both of us.
The others had only heard the story.
We had lived it.
"..."
"..."
"..."
Miyu quietly covered her mouth with her hand.
"...They're hopeless."
Shiori leaned closer.
"Hm?"
"They're reminiscing again."
"...It's kind of sweet."
"I know."
Neither of them lowered their voices quite enough.
Kanon immediately looked away.
"I-I wasn't..."
Her ears turned pink.
"We were just talking."
"Mm."
Miyu nodded with an expression that clearly said she wasn't convinced.
"I believe you."
"...You don't."
"I don't."
Kanon buried her face behind her glass with a defeated little groan.
Across from her...
I found myself smiling.
Not because Miyu was teasing her.
But because...
Somehow...
Watching Kanon become flustered over something so small was unexpectedly adorable.
And judging by the way she stole one quick glance in my direction before looking away again...
The conversation paused as our meals arrived one after another.
A waitress carefully placed each dish on the table, filling the air with the rich aroma of grilled meat, butter, and freshly baked bread.
"Your hamburger steak."
"Thank you."
"Seafood pasta."
"Thank you very much."
"Gratin."
"Oh, it smells amazing..."
"Curry."
"Thanks."
"The jumbo steak."
Kiyoyama's eyes sparkled.
"...Beautiful."
"And finally, the grilled chicken."
The waitress offered a polite smile before bowing slightly.
"Please enjoy your meal."
Once she walked away, everyone instinctively brought their hands together.
"Itadakimasu."
The voices overlapped almost perfectly.
For a while, conversation gave way to the quiet sounds of dinner.
Forks lightly tapped against ceramic plates.
Steam drifted upward from the freshly cooked meals.
Outside the large window beside us, the last traces of sunlight gradually faded from the evening sky.
"..."
Shiori took her first bite of the gratin.
Her eyes widened almost immediately.
"It's delicious."
"I told you," Miyu replied with a satisfied smile.
"I should've listened sooner."
"You eventually did."
"I only needed ten minutes."
"That's considered fast."
Shiori laughed sheepishly.
Meanwhile...
Kiyoyama was already halfway through his steak.
"..."
Amane stared at him.
"You've barely chewed."
"I chew efficiently."
"I don't think that's a thing."
"It is if you're talented."
"You're going to choke one day."
"I choose to believe in myself."
"You shouldn't."
"I appreciate your concern."
"It wasn't concern."
"I appreciate it anyway."
The table filled with quiet laughter once again.
It felt...
Comfortable.
Like no one had to force the conversation.
Topics simply came and went as naturally as breathing.
I picked up my glass for a sip of water when something caught my attention.
Across from me...
Kanon had paused with her fork halfway to her mouth.
She was staring at her plate.
"..."
Then, almost imperceptibly...
She began nudging several cherry tomatoes toward the edge.
Trying to separate them from everything else.
"..."
I smiled.
Some things really never changed.
"You still do that."
Her shoulders gave the slightest twitch.
"...Do what?"
"The tomato evacuation."
"..."
She looked down at her plate.
"...I'm not evacuating them."
"They're literally lined up on the edge."
"I'm... organizing them."
"Sure."
"I am."
"You've been organizing tomatoes since elementary school."
She looked up with narrowed eyes.
"...You're making fun of me."
"Only a little."
"I knew it."
She sighed dramatically before setting her fork down.
"I've tried liking them."
"For how many years now?"
"...Too many."
"And?"
She frowned at one particularly unfortunate tomato.
"...They're still tomatoes."
"I can't argue with that."
"Exactly."
I reached across the table and picked up the serving spoon resting between our dishes.
Before she could ask what I was doing, I scooped the tomatoes from her plate onto mine.
"There."
"..."
Kanon blinked.
"...You don't have to."
"They're just tomatoes."
"But..."
She looked from my plate...
...to me.
"...You actually like them?"
"They're fine."
"..."
"..."
A small smile slowly appeared on her face.
"...You always do this."
"Hm?"
"Whenever we eat together."
I paused.
"...Do I?"
She nodded.
"You've been taking my tomatoes since we were kids."
"..."
"...Really?"
"You don't remember?"
I searched my memory.
At first...
Nothing came to mind.
Then...
A hazy image surfaced.
A family restaurant.
Two children sitting across from each other.
One quietly sliding tomatoes across the table.
The other happily eating them.
"..."
"...Oh."
I laughed softly.
"I completely forgot."
"I didn't."
Her answer came almost immediately.
Without hesitation.
For some reason...
That simple response made my chest feel strangely warm.
She remembered.
Something so ordinary.
So insignificant.
Yet...
She remembered it.
"I guess..." I rubbed the back of my neck with a sheepish smile. "Some habits stick."
"...Yeah."
Her smile softened.
"They do."
For a brief moment...
Neither of us spoke.
The sounds around the restaurant gradually faded into the background.
The conversation at the neighboring table.
The clinking of dishes.
The music playing softly overhead.
Everything seemed distant.
It was oddly peaceful.
"...You two."
Miyu's voice broke the silence.
Both of us looked up.
She rested her chin on one hand, wearing a smile that immediately made me suspicious.
"You're doing it again."
"Hm?" Kanon tilted her head.
"What?"
"You act like you've got your own little world."
"We don't."
"You really do."
Kanon shook her head.
"We were just talking."
"You always say that."
"Because it's true."
Miyu chuckled.
"It probably is."
"...But that's exactly what makes it cute."
"..."
"..."
Kanon froze.
"...Cute?"
"Mhm."
"N-No..."
She quickly looked around the table.
"We're just childhood friends."
Miyu smiled knowingly.
"I know."
"..."
"..."
"...That's why it's cute."
"M-Miyu..."
Her voice became little more than a whisper.
A faint blush spread across her cheeks.
She reached for her glass in an obvious attempt to hide behind it.
Unfortunately...
Her ears had already turned bright red.
Shiori couldn't help smiling.
"I think it's nice."
Kanon peeked over the rim of her glass.
"...Even you?"
"I mean..."
Shiori laughed quietly.
"You two know so much about each other."
"...That's normal."
"Is it?"
"We've known each other forever."
Miyu nodded.
"Exactly."
Then she looked at me.
"Yuuma."
"What?"
"If Kanon ordered something different tonight..."
She smiled mischievously.
"...Would you notice?"
"...Probably."
The answer escaped before I even thought about it.
"..."
The table became unexpectedly quiet.
"..."
I blinked.
"...What?"
Miyu looked positively delighted.
"Oh?"
Kanon stared at me.
"...You would?"
"..."
Now that I actually thought about it...
"...Yeah."
I scratched my cheek awkwardly.
"I mean..."
"...You've ordered hamburger steak almost every time we've eaten together."
"So..."
"If you suddenly ordered seafood pasta..."
I shrugged.
"...I'd definitely notice."
"..."
Kanon looked down at her plate.
A few loose strands of hair slipped forward, hiding part of her expression.
"..."
"...Kanon?"
"...Nothing."
Her voice was unusually quiet.
"...I just..."
She smiled to herself.
"...Didn't think you paid that much attention."
The words weren't teasing.
If anything...
She sounded genuinely surprised.
"..."
I wasn't sure how to answer.
Because...
Until now...
I'd never realized I did pay that much attention.
Not consciously.
It was simply...
Kanon.
The little things about her had become so familiar over the years that noticing them required no effort at all.
"..."
Across the table...
Miyu looked as though she'd just confirmed a theory she'd been testing all day.
She leaned toward Shiori and whispered something.
Shiori's lips curved into a knowing smile.
I had no idea what they'd said.
Judging by the way both of them kept glancing between Kanon and me...
I wasn't sure I wanted to know.
Just then, Kiyoyama suddenly slammed his hands onto the table.
"I've decided."
Everyone looked at him.
"I'm getting dessert."
"..."
"...That's your announcement?"
"Yes."
"I thought something serious happened," Amane muttered.
"It is serious."
"No."
"It concerns cheesecake."
"That somehow makes it less serious."
Kiyoyama ignored him completely.
He flipped open the dessert menu with sparkling eyes.
"I shall bravely sacrifice my wallet."
"You've said that five times today," Miyu laughed.
"And every sacrifice has been worth it."
In the end...
We all ordered dessert.
Somehow.
Kiyoyama claimed eating alone would be lonely.
No one believed him.
Still...
A few minutes later, six desserts covered the table.
Shiori eagerly took a picture before anyone touched theirs.
"Wait!"
Click.
"Okay."
Only then did everyone begin eating.
The sweetness brought another wave of relaxed conversation.
Stories from junior high.
Embarrassing classroom moments.
Kiyoyama's failed attempts at cooking.
Even Amane admitted he'd once set instant noodles on fire.
"...How?"
"I forgot the water."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"You know what?"
Kiyoyama nodded solemnly.
"I respect that."
"You shouldn't."
The laughter that followed echoed through the restaurant.
By the time we finally stepped outside...
The city had settled into night.
Streetlights illuminated the sidewalks with a gentle amber glow.
A cool breeze carried away the warmth that lingered from the day.
For a moment...
The six of us simply stood beneath the restaurant's sign.
"Today was fun," Shiori said softly.
"It really was."
Miyu smiled.
"We should do this again sometime."
"I vote for somewhere with unlimited food," Kiyoyama declared.
"You always do."
"And one day you'll listen."
Amane shook his head.
"I'm beginning to think you're impossible."
"I've been impossible for years."
"Fair point."
The group started walking toward the station.
Without anyone saying anything...
Our positions shifted naturally.
Miyu and Shiori walked ahead, chatting quietly.
Kiyoyama and Amane followed behind them, already arguing about whether pudding counted as a drink.
That left...
Kanon beside me once again.
"..."
"..."
For a while...
Neither of us spoke.
The silence wasn't uncomfortable.
It never had been.
"I..."
Kanon suddenly broke it.
"Hm?"
She looked straight ahead.
"...Thanks."
"For what?"
"Today."
She smiled faintly.
"I had a lot of fun."
I smiled back.
"Me too."
"...And..."
She hesitated.
"...Thanks for the tomatoes."
I laughed.
"You remembered that?"
"I don't think I'll ever forget."
The corners of her lips lifted into a gentle smile.
"...Some habits really do stick."
"...Yeah."
"They do."
For just a moment...
Our shoulders brushed together as we walked.
Neither of us moved away.
The distance between us remained exactly the same.
Not because either of us had decided to stay close.
It simply...
Felt natural.
Ahead of us, Miyu glanced back over her shoulder.
She caught sight of the two of us walking side by side.
A satisfied smile quietly spread across her face.
She didn't say anything this time.
She didn't have to.
Some things...
Were becoming obvious on their own.
And although neither Kanon nor I realized it yet...
Tonight had changed something.
Not in a dramatic way.
Not enough for either of us to put it into words.
Just enough that, as we walked beneath the glow of the streetlights toward the station...
Being beside her felt a little more special than it had yesterday.
And somehow...
I had a feeling she felt the same.