Dear Diary,

I finally reunited with Kotori and my world becomes colorful again. I'm tempted to write down these feelings within me to a paper, by then again I find myself trying to describe the indescribable. There are certain concepts that seem to be pointed out though:

My dull life begins to change as my social circle is growing with Kotori and our friends. After mentally and physically deepening my bond with her, I feel nothing as if she has made me expel all my weaknesses. Perhaps I should talk about myself more, but you cannot stop talking about the gem of your life, can you?

As a hard worker like myself, this morning's work out was done pretty well, productive as I would call. Even so I may need to extend my work out schedule by adding two more hours jogging. There is nothing better than to be meticulous and studious. So tomorrow's plan is ready too.

I'm planning to visit to Nozomi and her roommate Nico after my metier in the campus. Maybe metier is not the correct term yet, but hopefully what Honoka told me about this job will be my new metier, so I need to go in the early morning. I can already feel tomorrow will be hectic since I'd promised Kotori to have a date with her.

Let's list it here:

- Observe the school bulletin and student job lists

- Have Nozomi know that you'll visit her

- Job Hunting?

- Go back to Dojo

- Prepare yourself, Take a shower!

- Have a date with Kotori

When I'm with my friends, I often find myself in a terrible situation that I can't escape from, and I'm sure tomorrow will be no exception. Even after all the happenings, this friendship doesn't need daily conversations, doesn't need always togetherness, as long as relationship is kept in heart, true friends never go apart, I believe. They are exceptionally dissimilar...

She couldn't make out the words which she herself put down upon the page. She held onto her train of thought with the pleasant memories, and emotions becoming tangled like battling tree roots. Sometimes amusing, sometimes cringy and sometimes very heart-warming, being together with them.

She plopped down on the couch and realised that the pen and diary in her hands had long since slipped from her hands as she closed her eyes.

-8-8-

As the time drew near a steady summer, the heat became far less bearable. As if it would bounce off the streets of the campus, and cause an illusion of wavering images everywhere. Desert or hell, the exact name.

Feeling a bit bedraggled by the sultry heat, Umi's skin felt moist and feverish. She began to tidy her appearance and adjusted her sun hat to prevent the burning sunlight seeping through her boiling face. Even if she did, she could still feel her bangs stick to the perspiration on her face.

Her eyes were barely recognised her surroundings until she reached to the place she was looking for. Standing in front of the department of literature Umi observed the student bulletin board thoroughly, then her eyes found the job name. 'This must be the part-time job Honoka was talking about,' she said in her hand, then began to observe the banner in her sight.

We were looking for someone like you 👉

Catch the randomness of the real nature and get ready for a better colorful year!

A botanist at their best can make it real!

xxxx-xxxx-xxxx

''Time-consuming tasks often trouble busy students unnecessarily, and considering my already-full schedule it doesn't give any good vibes at all,' Umi blurted, paying no attention to her surroundings. A part-time work should offer the flexibility Umi required, but it seemed impossible after having seen the working hours. Totally way-out for Umi. She was beginning to wonder whether her best friend was making fun of her or not.

The heat was already burning her skin and all happenings doubled her annoyance. She gave an exaggerated sigh along with a dissatisfied face.

'But it sounds like Honoka would be the one hiring,' she thought, eyes narrowing.

Once she found her lips dry out, it hit Umi that there was no way this heat would be ever gone. As if on cue, her eyes quickly spotted a shady spot a few walks away from where she was. She launched forth on the way. While walking towards there, she quickly pulled her phone out of her pocket and searched 'ほ' in the contact list, then dialed the number.

The silence prolonged itself for what seemed a very long time as Umi couldn't get an answer from her best friend. Stomping her foot impatiently, a throaty groan erupted. The look of intense focus on her phone's screen could be mistaken for anger.

Hopeless. Neither finding another job that wouldn't take much time nor getting any better ideas from her best friend.

Why would she need a job besides the one at her father's dojo? Oh right, she did need an extra financial support because you know, she had a beautiful, sexy- no.

Ahem.. smart and cute girlfriend. The pure smile that would make her heart jump out of her chest, the playful tone she would usually use on while they were at it- no.

Umi shook her head to get rid of the inner thoughts quickly.

Ever since Kotori came back from France, they were going out almost everyday except the hectic days Umi had to work at the dojo. She would need extra money to hoard for future needs. A decent date was all she needed and those kind of thoughts have been overflowing in her head.

For a moment Umi thought something was tickling her side, specifically in her pocket. Wait pocket?

Her phone was buzzing. Her eyes shifted from road to the bright screen on her phone.

Kousaka Honoka Calling

"Finally," she muttered as she answered with a great haste.

''La laa laa laaaaa! Hello, it's Honoka!''

''Hello, good morning Honoka,'' Umi replied, then finally found a bank to sit.

''How are you Umi-chan? I saw you called me not long ago. Is there something you wanted to talk about? If it's Kotori-chan that you can't reach, it's because she is taking a shower right now. You know she would make herself prepared for another alluring date. How lucky fufu~''

''Honoka!'' Umi shouted. She felt her face get warmer, matching the weather.

''I don't know what you're doing particularly but everytime she is home, there is this smile no one can make better. It's always nice to have someone in your life that makes you smile even when they're not around right?'' The words Honoka said were somehow dissimilar from her usual genki speech and Umi found herself smile fondly. ''I'm glad my best friend is dating my roommate so that I don't have to be worried about small things like date, kiss and stuff~''

Her smile faltered and faded away. "Honoka!"

One could swear other students from the nearby cafe might hear the extent of Umi's outburst, though a slight blush across her face wouldn't tell further.

"Sorry, sorry! So what happened?" Honoka took great delight in teasing.

"I've taken a look at the job you mentioned. I heard their herborization study failed due to the inept botanists in charge of the ethnopharmacological research.''

''Ehh? What do you mean? I can't keep all these words in mind Umi-chan.''

''It was a floristic research and due to an inopportune use of knowledge and implementation, I don't consider it any longer.'' Umi cleared her throat, ''Anyways Honoka, I'm just wondering why do you think I would be suitable for this project with a little wage?"

"Eh? Why, why, why? Hmm… I thought you were a botany geek Umi-chan! You would love to run the mound of dirt, begin to dig with your hands!"

At that time Umi didn't find her remark as appealing as she would think. When they were younger, they used to play with clays and muds a lot. Of course Umi, as a dedicated clay soldier in everyone's memories, was the winner all the time. Deep down in her heart being called geek was enough for her to frown.

Umi's eyebrow twitched in irritation, she grunted with a sulk in her face. "Honoka, just from which side do you assume that I have that 'geek' part?" She spoke in an eerily calm manner that would scare the person on the other side of the line. It was no surprise that Honoka kept it cool since she was already mentally bright with a quick mind and energetic personality.

"There was a time when Kotori-chan told us her first date with you," Honoka blurted out.

''Eh?!'' Umi cringed at another recalled memory as the homely warmth crawled up to her face. She buried her face in her palm. ''Please... just please don't bring back the unnecessary subjects that I'll never want to talk about again.''

''You mean the silly part when you two went out to the beach, and ended up clamming together with gloves and sun hats just because you thought geek stuff was cooler with her?''

''Honoka! This and that had nothing to do with! Besides everything becomes way 'cooler' with the one you love.'' Umi said in finality, as she leaned back in her position. She closed her eyes as she pinched the bridge of her nose, already tired from Honoka's energy.

Umi was surprised by the following silence, the loss of her voice like the sun going behind a cloud. The energy was somehow drained out of the orange-haired girl through the line. Umi thought something had triggered Honoka and her mood swang abruptly. Just from that point Umi stood, drinking in silence for a minute or two, then she heard Honoka's muttering again.

''Umi-chan, there is something I have to tell you.''

Umi popped back, her eyes snapping open. Curiosity took over her.

"Do you remember Tsubasa-chan from the cram school?"

"You mean Kira-san?"

"Mhm. The other day we ran into each other on the way of my department's nearby cafe Pompompurin!... and it's like we talked for an eternity. My hands were sweating and my heart was elevated somehow."

"What do you mean? Are you finally inspired to write a verse instead of making me do it all the time back in high school?"

"No! I mean yes, but no. Umi-chan you are dating Kotori-chan even doing stuff that I would never thought rest of my life you could do and you still question? Don't you get it all already?"

"So you two become good friends?"

"Bip boop!"

"Wait…"

"The(not-so) secret word is I've gotta be on the way of the first base if you know what I mean."

Umi began to hear giggling sounds.

"Eh?"

"Mou Umi-chan, take a guess!" Honoka complained with a pout.

"Best frie-"

"Please, think something more than just friends."

"You two were long-lost sisters?"

"In which book?"

"Cousins?"

"Ugh.. This not Sailor Moon!"

Umi hummed the answer on her lips, "Wait, don't tell me that you are in…"

"Yes, I'm in?"

"You are in…"

"Yes! I'm in!"

"You're in trouble again because you did something to her."

A sound of slap was heard or more like someone slammed their head to somewhere.

"Umi-chan I will have Kotori-chan know how dense you are when it comes to love," Honoka sighed heavily. "I've come to like Tsubasa-chan again and I need your help. Like immediately.''

Umi didn't understand how unlikely that was, her mind filled with jumbled thoughts.

''It is not a joke!''

Her thoughts were dispelled by Honoka's serious tone, and her eyes softened at the mention of her friend's secret crush. She felt quite delighted that her best friend could finally find someone she cared for. "Eh? Since when did you come to love someone more than your bread?" Umi commented, and likely wasn't trying to conceal the sarcastic tone in her voice.

"Mou Umi-chan!'' Honoka started in a sulk, then Umi heard another voice that would belong to a more mature person. ''Gotta go for now! My mom wants me to visit the store earlier so I'll catch you later, my botany geek!~~'' she chanted with rejoice.

"Ok, see you- wait, H-Honoka!" Before Umi could complain at her bestie's small banter, Honoka already hung up her phone.

Umi sighed, at least it would be easier to understand Honoka's intentions now. Even though she was so obvious, Umi would be persistent not to understand any romantic relation.

She closed her phone, then let herself to be led by the gentle wind caressing her face.

After a series of misfortune events, what made Umi's day better today was her best friend opening up her secret to her. So the series of unfortunate events ended with this news.

Or maybe it was too early to say.