I moved Yukinoshita's birthday by a couple of weeks. No big deal.

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I was all set to go out shopping with Yui for Yukinoshita's birthday. It was important for us. Well not us us. The royal us. We started at a mall. Yui tried on a cardigan she thought Yukinoshita might like. I pointed out Yukinoshita would be swimming in that thing. Yui had an entirely different frame from Yukinoshita. But when I mentioned size Yui got flustered and a little downtrodden.

"Oh yeah if it's about size then yeah," Yui murmured downcast.

"Don't be surprised. It's about the ratio."

"Huh? Ratio?" She wondered tilting her head at me.

"Yeah I mean the proportions of your figure have more to do with beauty than any one aspect of it. I wouldn't sweat it. You and Yukinoshita are both very proportional. Just in different ways."

"So it's about the proportion to Hikki…"

"Not just to me. All guys think this way. If you threw a set of double Ds on Yukinoshita it wouldn't make her more attractive so much as it would make me worry about her back."

"Ah. I think I get it."

"Isn't attractiveness the same way for girls?" I wondered.

"Ah I suppose so. I've just never heard it so analytic before," Yui answered. "Hikki says I'm proportional? Who is more proportional? Me or Yukinon?"

"Oh I don't…" I stuttered off. "You both are proportional in different ways. Comparing you two doesn't do me any favors. You both do such different to me. For me. I meant for me."

She giggled at my flustered expression. "That's a good answer. I suppose it's the same for girls. And girls liking girls."

"Well thank you," I managed. "I really wouldn't sweat it. You both are very proportional. But that cardigan might not fit Yukinoshita is the point."

"I see," she nodded.

"What are you thinking of as a birthday present Hikki?"

"Maybe a cat album? Maybe some earrings? I saw these cute kitten earrings at this mall a while ago. I wonder if they are still there…"

"That's sweet. Hmmm. Well I like this one. She picked up a tighter fitting cardigan with a cat's face on it. I couldn't imagine Yukinoshita coming out in something like that but maybe she'd wear it around the house. Her apartment, that was.

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I settled on the kitten earrings. They were cute and she could wear them to school. That pretty much settled it. We had been walking for a while after finishing our shopping so we took a break. In the meantime, we decided to enter a café. We could have gone to the Starbucks outside, but this season was rather cold. Also, I didn't really understand how to order there, so I didn't really want to go today. As such, I settled for going to a place where I was familiar with making orders.

"You okay with here?"

"Sure."

I checked with Yui and we entered the café inside of Sogo. The café had a subdued atmosphere devoid of commotion due to it being further in the store.

"For two, please."

I informed the employee our party number and we were led to a seat of four. It was situated immediately next to the windows where the entirety of Chiba Station could be seen in one look below. After offering the inner seat to Yui, I gazed at Chiba Station that stretched out from behind her. I caught sight of the operating monorail and somehow, it made me think just how super advanced Chiba was. Chiba was one futuristic city, seriously. I followed the direction in which the monorail was heading and my eyes crashed with someone who was sitting in a seat diagonally opposite of me.

"Oh, it's Hikigaya-kun."

That person was also seated at a sofa with her back to the window. She was wearing a shirt with white based frills, a golden chain dangling at her bosom. It made her entire person glisten as if the light from outside was concentrating on her, but in reality, her cheerfully, smiling eyes looked darker than the clear skies. After adjusting her vividly, red stole that gave off an uneven impression, Yukinoshita Haruno called my name. After calling out to me, Yui shifted her gaze to the side and uttered her name in surprise.

"Haruno-san… er," Yui adjusted her gaze to the front of Haruno-san.

And a male wearing a black jacket over a jersey in grey, crossed between black and white, was there. While his eyes, underneath his brown, close to a light gold, hair, looked slightly surprised, Hayama Hayato was still smiling.

"Oh, it's Hayato-kun, too."

"…Hey there." Hayama said briefly, the shine of his dull silver wristwatch escaping from out of his cuff that he lightly lifted in the air.

I returned a slight nod. We didn't say anything beyond that and the only audible noise was the faintly played jazz. Mingling with that noise was the sound of chairs being pulled.

"It sure feels like a long time since we've met, Gahama-chan," said Haruno-san, naturally relocating herself to our table. Complying with that, Hayama let out a short sigh, took the check book, and sat next to me. "You two on a date, huh? You little rascal, you. As friendly as ever, I see. Yukino-chan's not with you?" Haruno-san poked Yui's body with her elbow and then looked towards the entrance of the store.

"Ah, we're actually here today to buy presents for Yukinon…"

"Ahh, that's right, it's almost her birthday, huh… I see, I see." Harunosan nodded her head while listening to Yui, but she then quickly took out her cellphone and started dialing somewhere. Watching her, Hayama unassumingly spoke up.

"…I don't think it'll get through."

"No, I'm sure it will today," said Haruno-san, wearing a smile full of certainty. The ringing faintly resounded in the quiet interior of the store. After two rings, three rings, and a few more, the call finally connected, and there was a small audible voice from the other end.

[Hello…]

"Ah, Yukino-chan? It's onee-chan. Can you come out right now?"

[I'm hanging up.]

So fast! Yui and Hayama who were listening to the immediate retort made a strained smile. But Haruno-san who was seemingly used to this reaction didn't budge an inch and continued with a teasing tone.

"Ohhh? Are you sure you should be hanging up on me?"

[…What?]

Haruno-san made a broad grin. "The thing is, right now, I'm actually with Hikigaya-kun!"

[Again with your ridiculous lies… Enough al—]

"Here you go, Hikigaya-kun." Before she could even finish, Haruno-san forced her cellphone on me.

"Wha? Eh?" I alternated looks between Haruno-san and the cellphone in my hand, but she started playing dumb after hiding her hands behind her. It looked like she didn't plan on answering at all. On the other hand, Yukinoshita was calling Haruno-san. I guess I'll have to answer for now…

"Ahh… hello?" I answered, not sure knowing what to talk about. When I did, I could hear her stifled breath from the receiver on the other end. After a brief moment of silence, she breathed out.

[Really, unbelievable…Why are you there?] That's what I want to ask. We were supposed to be here just to shop… Just why was I here!? Just why was I here!?

"Well, I just happened to be out shopping and she kind of caught me…"

I made a scowl at that yokai and figured I'd try to explain my situation, but I was interrupted by another sigh.

[That's fine. I'll be right over there, so switch with nee-san.]

"…Yes, I'm sorry." I ended up apologizing for some reason.

I wiped the screen down with a wet towel and gave back Haruno-san her cellphone. She exchanged a few words with Yukinoshita about our location and the sort and hung up.

"Looks like Yukino-chan's coming," said Haruno-san, wearing a satisfied smile. Yui spoke up in hesitation.

"Um, why did you call Yukinon over? It sounded like she didn't want to come…"

"Hm? Ahh, actually, we have a family dinner planned after this, but Yukino-chan refused to go. But if Hikigaya-kun and you are here, she doesn't really have any other choice, right?"

"Are we hostages or something…?"

"Don't make it sound so bad. But wouldn't it make for a great story if she rushed here for the sake of her friends who were captured on her behalf?"

"That just makes me wonder who the evil tyrant king is here…"

"Oh, we've got a Literature Boy here," said Haruno-san, teasing me gleefully.

Yui titled her head with a "huh?"

Hayama made a slight smile when he saw that. "It's from 'Run, Melos!'"

"Ah, ahhh, um, yeah, that… I knew that. I've heard of that, it's like super fast!"

As I doubted her, Yui frantically changed the topic to play it off. "Anyway, having a family dinner sounds nice! Everyone's together and stuff…" Yui directed her gaze to Hayama. Guessing what that meant, Hayama picked up where she left off.

"Our parents have been pretty close since a long time ago… When we were talking about making New Year greetings, they started talking about having dinner together. They're just having me accompany them."

"Ohh…" Yui nodded convincingly. Haruno-san traced the rim of her cup and let out a small sigh. "Our parents have it really busy around the holidays and when work begins again is pretty hectic too. So the day we can make courtesy calls with acquaintances is just today." Apparently, it's an established custom for the Yukinoshita household. But still, if they're going out to eat after this, then that meant Yukinoshita's parents should be nearby…

I kind of want to see them. I did a light stretch and took quick looks around. But sitting diagonally opposite of me, Haruno-san chuckled, easily seeing through that sneaky behavior.

"Our parents are making courtesy calls right now. We're just waiting for them."

"Ahh, I see…" I accepted it after being told. Whenever fellow parents had business to take care of, they typically left their children together. Back when my mom participated in a co-op society, since it was a gathering of other moms, she would leave me with their kids. But look here, maman.

Parents may get along together, but more often than not, the kids didn't… It was truly an awkward period of my life. Listening, Yui let out a fascinated gasp.

"Making those greetings must be rough, huh?"

"We do it every year, so I'm already used to it. Well, I do think it's a pain sometimes though… It's surprising how this custom's still alive, tradition rather," said Haruno-san, her voice having some indescribable feeling of resignation. There was something called an association, whether it had to do with Yukinoshita or even Hayama who didn't make it to the shrine visit. Respectable families, the so-called distinguished families, probably had their obligations. For common people, it's a story that didn't seem all that real, but the fact of the matter was that it was. Well, a household with secretive relative associations wasn't all that rare. It's just that I didn't know too much about it, but surprisingly, I think there were a lot of households with unique communities. Even common people like ourselves had one or two things that shadowed over us. If you factor in social standing, then the obligations should increase accordingly. Haruno-san tapped the table as if to brush off the sigh she let out.

"Anyway, what kind of present did you buy?" As Haruno-san was speaking, she sidled over to Yui who was sitting on the same sofa. Yui shrunk back while opening up her bag.

"Um… I got her this cardigan…"

"Oh I see. It is rather cold this time of year."

"Yeah… last time I was over at Yukinon's I thought it was cold so I got her this."

"Oh, I totally get you. I'm not too good with the cold myself."

In contrast to their girly chat, the guys, Hayama and me, had nothing in particular to talk about and just sat there listening to them. But to Hayama, it looked like that wasn't something he could sit still to and he murmured with a small voice.

"Birthday present, huh…?" Hayama glanced at me.

"What did you buy?"

"Ahh, just some stuff."

"I see." Hayama averted his gaze, not pressing me any further.

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The stagnant time carried on. Thirty minutes had passed since Haruno-san's phone call to Yukinoshita. It should take a bit more time if she was coming here straight from her apartment. Having been the ones who called her, there was no way we could just get up and leave. The coffee I sipped at had long been empty and the teapot that should've had steam rising from its top was already cold. Yui, aside from me, was also restlessly turning her head. She then raised her voice after recognizing something. I looked in its direction and I discovered Yukinoshita briskly walking in our direction.

"Yukinooon, over here," said Yui, waving her hand. Yukinoshita noticed her and she made her way to where we were sitting.

"Yui-san… you were here too," said Yukinoshita, surprised. We didn't mention her on the phone, after all.

"Right, right. Um… I was out shopping with Hikki and I somehow got caught too…"

"Shopping… I-I see…" Unsure of whether she should reveal that we were here to shop for her presents or not, Yui suspiciously stumbled over her words. Yukinoshita made alternating dubious looks between Yui and me as she was listening.

"Anyway, sit, sit," said Yui. She lifted herself up half-way, making space for another person on the sofa and invited Yukinoshita to sit there. Inevitably, Yukinoshita sat at a position where she didn't face Haruno-san directly. She then bowed her head to Yui.

"I'm sorry that my older sister was a bother to you."

"Oh no, not at all." Yui answered, cheerfully waving her hands back and forth. Yukinoshita pressed her hand against her chest looking slightly relieved. Then, she turned to me and checked to see how I was doing with an upward glance.

"Hikigaya-kun too, um…"

"It's not a big deal. I had nothing better to do anyway." I really didn't have anything planned after we were done shopping. In fact, I might've felt relieved for the time I wasn't alone together with Yui. That being said, I couldn't say that was a good thing at all. And the main culprit behind that was wearing a provocative smile and she teasingly greeted Yukinoshita.

"Yukino-chan, you're sooooo slow."

"You have a lot of nerve despite being the one who called me out on short notice…" Yukinoshita gave her a sidelong glare while Haruno-san took it coolly. Yui who was stuck in between had an uneasy smile. Super Smash Yukinoshita Sisters! Please spare me from that…

"Why not leave it at that? It looks like Yukino-chan rushed over here as fast she could so, so…" It was a refreshing and recognizable voice that tried to alleviate the tense mood. Because I wasn't familiar with that voice calling her that way, I reflexively turned my head. The owner of the voice, Hayama Hayato, had a blunder-making grimace and quickly tried to cover it up with a smile.

"…"

Yukinoshita looked at Hayama quietly, seemingly surprised, and he shook his shoulders. "Yukinoshita-san, what would you like to drink?"

"…I'll take black tea then." After she stated, he promptly made the order. After the black tea arrived, Haruno-san made a deep, long breath.

"It's been a long time since we all got together for tea like this, huh?"

"That's true."

"…"

While Hayama answered and nodded in agreement, Yukinoshita kept her eyes closed with her cup in hand. When the chat stagnated, Yui spoke up trying to find something to talk about.

"Ah, ummm… Hayato-kun has known you two since a long time ago, after all."

"Yep, yep. You know how Hayato's an only child? Thanks to that, his parents were really affectionate with us. Right, Yukino-chan?"

"I don't really think so."

"That's not true. It wasn't just our parents that were affectionate with you two. Everyone else was too."

Even when Haruno-san spoke to them and even when Hayama maintained his smile and answered, Yukinoshita's attitude didn't change. But Haruno-san didn't pay that any attention and her gaze turned distant.

"It's so nostalgic… Back when we were younger, whenever our parents had business to take care of, I'd always be the one taking care of you two." Hearing that, Yukinoshita twitched and frowned.

"You must be mistaken with forcing us to follow you around and do what you want. You were a real nuisance." She set her cup on her saucer and sent a cold tone and indifferent gaze to Haruno-san.

Hayama responded in turn. "Ahh, like the time when we were at the public zoo… We went through a lot of trouble at the amusement park zone, didn't we…?"

"It was like that at the Rinkai Par,k too. She'd leave us stranded, she'd shake the Ferris wheel…" Hayama and Yukinoshita made gloomy expressions from recalling the days of the past. But Haruno-san was nodding with a happy look.

"Ahh, that happened, didn't it? And Yukino-chan would always cry afterwards."

"Wait… Stop making up things."

"But they're not made up though. Right, Hayato?"

"Ahaha… I wonder."

Haruno-san would talk to them, Hayama would smile and respond, and Yukinoshita would nod silently. As I watched them engaged in their nostalgic chatter, a feeling of reality suddenly sank in. Those three certainly had accumulated time together back then and they were memories that outsiders could not touch on. Yui couldn't join in on their conversation, let alone me. I don't know what kind of relation these two sisters had a long time ago. Even if I knew, there was nothing I could do. The only things I could do were occasionally carry the bitter coffee to my mouth and ignore their stories of the past that continued even and respond agreeably. And lastly, imagine them. I don't know when it was, but I was asked something before. That if I had went to the same elementary school as those two girls, would anything have changed. Just what did I answer at the time? As I indulged in my memories and thoughts, there was the simultaneous sound of a sigh and a placed cup. I looked in its direction and Harunosan was resting her chin in her hands, gazing at Hayama and Yukinoshita with eyes lacking warmth.

"Both of you were sooo adorable back then… Nowadays… you two just seem so boring." The more beautiful her nicely shaped, vivid lips were, the colder the words that came out of them. With a pinning glare and an icy smile, the voices of everyone there were stifled. Yukinoshita slightly squeezed her fist above the table while Hayama gritted his teeth and looked away. Yui made a perplexed glance at me. When the table submerged in silence, Haruno-san chuckled. "Well, Hikigaya-kun's here now. I guess I'll just settle for playing with Hikigaya-kun instead."

"No, anything sports related is a bit too much for me…"

"But that's exactly what I want to tease you in. There, there. There, there, Hachiman," said Haruno-san, and she reached out her hand to rub my head. I twisted my body and avoided her hand. "Oh, he got away."

The way she would speak with her friendly smile made her appear like a good-natured older sister. Not often did you get to have an older beauty smile at you, so it wasn't a bad feeling. Even if that smile was a lie it might've not mattered. Anyone could have a two-faced façade in the same way Isshiki Iroha would try to appear cute, so it wasn't scary in the least. How Yukinoshita Haruno would expose that unknown nature of hers hidden underneath was what was frightening. But Haruno-san at the moment didn't seem like she'd be saying any more and brought up a completely different topic with her smile intact. "Speaking of sports, isn't there a marathon at school coming up soon?"

"Ah, yes. I think it's at the end of the month." Yui answered. Haruno-san showed a look of surprise.

"Ohh, so it's not being held in February this year."

"According to the advisors, it sounds like they're moving it ahead of schedule to match up with the calendar." Hayama exchanged a gentle smile as if nothing had happened and replied with a calm voice. And there, Yukinoshita-san was making quite the depressing face, of course. She has no stamina, after all… She didn't look like she'd be good with marathons. In any case, the cheerful mood returned. That's fine, but the four of them engaged in pleasant chatter somehow attracted attention from their surroundings. They weren't gaudy in the least, but they had presence. These four sure do stand out, huh…

For a while now, I could feel glances directed at us from the entrance of the store. Well, it was a little bit noisy right now, but these four were attractive people. They were the kind of people you'd end up looking at if they were walking in the middle of the city. Thanks to these four, my presence became even more nonexistent. I am a shadow…

But the stronger the light, the darker the shadow, the more prominent the shine of the light becomes… Since I had nothing to do in particular, I decided to devote myself to being Kuroko, a stagehand. Instead. I sat there carrying my coffee to my mouth mechanically without joining in the conversation and my coffee was all gone. Might as well get one more… When I looked for a waiter inside the store, a woman in a kimono was heading our way. Put up black, glossy hair and a demeanor of tranquility. She seemed younger than my parents. She walked with a noiseless and graceful gait, balancing her well-proportioned body. Her unassuming countenance gave rise to a feeling of déjà vu. She looks similar, intuitively, I thought. That woman made her way to our table without hesitation and called out.

"Haruno." It was a voice that traveled easily, making it through all the voices of the customers and the lightly played BGM and attracting the attention of those who listened. It caused me to think of someone.

Haruno-san turned around after being called. "Ah, did you finish your business?"

"Yes. I came here to call you two since we're going to have a meal after this. Hayato-kun, I'm sorry for making you wait."

"Not at all, please don't worry about it. We were able to pass the time thanks to everyone here." Hayama answered in a friendly manner. Then, he faced us and the woman moved her gaze around as well. Yukinoshita's presence must've been rather unexpected.

She muttered an "Oh my" with a lively voice. She then wore a gentle smile. "Yukino, so you did come. I'm glad…"

"Mother…" Yukinoshita muttered, either in surprise or in dejection. Speaking of which, her appearance and her displayed demeanor was remarkably similar to Yukinoshita. Once she got older, they'd be two peas in a pod. Yet, the reason why I didn't notice that on first glance was because there was a forceful intensity. She had a dignity that caused me to think twice before trying to speak to her casually. I instinctively straightened my back. Yukinoshita gulped, gently touched her elbows, embraced her own body, and averted her gaze as if she didn't belong. Just how did her daughter look to her? Yukinoshita's mother expressed a gentle smile.

Next to Yukinoshita who had lost her words, Yui slipped out her words. "Wow, she's crazy beautiful…"

While Yui was surprised, Yukinoshita's mother gave us a light bow and asked Haruno-san.

"Haruno. Are they your friends?"

"Yep. Hachiman and Gahama-chan." Haruno-san introduced us considerably crudely, either because she was continuing on from her charade from earlier or she found it too bothersome to explain.

"Ah, I'm Yukinon's friend, Yui Yui." Yui bowed her head in a fluster and I nodded in succession. But having to introduce myself to a girl's parents made me a little nervous…

I thought, but as I was hesitating to name myself, it looked like what Yui had said drew Yukinoshita's mother's attention.

"Yukinon…" Yukinoshita's mother gently placed her hand to her chin and narrowed her eyes, alternating looks between Yukinoshita and Yui. "Oh my, my apologies, so you were Yukino's friend. You looked rather mature that I just assumed."

"Mature… Ehehe." Yui looked pleased about it, but those words gave me a slight feeling of discomfort. If I had to say, Yui's looks were on the side of childish and innocent. At the very least, her behavior and gestures didn't give the impression of someone cool and collected. But apparently making a trivial mistaken assumption, Yukinoshita's mother placed her hand to her cheeks and happily spoke to Yui.

"Oh, is that so… Hayato-kun's the only one I know amongst Yukino's classmates, so… Please get along with her from now on, okay?"

"Yes!" Yui vigorously answered back and Yukinoshita's mother lightly lowered her head. I missed the timing to name myself, but well, it looked like she didn't have any interest in me at all and I doubt we'd ever meet again, so I didn't mind it. She then turned to Haruno-san and Hayama.

"Well then, shall we get going?"

"Okay." Haruno-san stood up and Hayama followed suit after taking the checkbook in his hand. But Yukinoshita, who was sitting in front of me, didn't move. Seeing that, Yukinoshita's mother calmly asked. "Yukino, you're coming along as well, right?" It was a question, but at the same time, it wasn't. Packed in that short sentence were all sorts of implications.

"I…" Yukinoshita spoke hesitantly. Her mother added to her words as if imploring her. "We're also celebrating your birthday." It was an affectionate, warm gaze and a gentle, reprimanding tone. Yet, in them was a powerful force of compulsion.

"…"

Yukinoshita bit her lips, faced downwards, and peeked a glance in my direction. Uh, even if you look at me…

Haruno-san caught that. "Yukino-chan, that's no good." Feelings of amusement shook in those cold eyes. With a vicious smile, Haruno-san spoke with a severe tone wearing a vicious smile and Yukinoshita's shoulders jumped. A moment of silence continued briefly. Haruno-san continued watching Yukinoshita while Hayama looked at the two anxiously. Yui shrunk back as if feeling out of place. I set my gaze outside the window and let out a weak sigh pretending not to notice. In that time, no words were exchanged and the somehow uncomfortable period of time continued on. It wasn't just for me. But also for Yui. And also for Yukinoshita. Or possibly, everyone there might've felt the same way. Yukinoshita's mother tilted her head wondering what to do and placed her hand on her temple. She then glanced at the two of us.

"I know, by all means, your friends can join us… What do you think?"

Yukinoshita's mother smiled at Yui and me. "I'm sorry. I don't want to overstay my welcome…"

I answered and rose. With an attendance of complete relatives, it would've been too awkward to be there. More importantly, I wasn't that dense that I would overlook a simple sign like this.

"I see. I thought perhaps you could have joined us…" She said, not looking to stop us as obvious as that should've been.

"…Well, we'll be taking our leave here."

"E-Excuse us." Yui lowered her head, I lightly nodded, and we left our seats.

Hayama exchanged a brief goodbye, "See you later" and Haruno-san waved at us with a smile.

Yukinoshita stood up right after us and sent a casual look to her mother. Her mother slightly pulled back her chin and nodded back. When Yukinoshita followed us to the front of the store to send us off, she hung her face.

"…I'm sorry you needed to be considerate for me," said Yukinoshita, apologetically. Yui shook her hands back and forth.

"No problem! I mean, I feel like we got something good out of it since we got to see Yukinon's mom!"

"I see. Then that's fine…" Yukinoshita answered, but her lifted face was still gloomy. Yui's face clouded when she saw that. But she promptly thought of something and began rustling through the bags under her arm.

"Ah. I know, here. It's a bit early, but this is for your birthday tomorrow." Yui handed her the bag with presents to Yukinoshita. Since Yui was giving it to her now, I decided to do the same.

"Congrats."

"Th-Thank you…" Yukinoshita had a look of confusion, stiffly staring at the bags, but eventually spoke with a disconnected voice. Then, she embraced the bags at her chest and her face broke into a smile. Watching Yukinoshita, Yui slipped a smile out as well.

"Let's celebrate your birthday again at school!"

"Alright, see you later."

"Yes… See you later." After we bid farewell to Yukinoshita who was slightly waving her half open hand, we headed to the elevator. I pressed the button of the elevator to head down, but it was going to take some time before it made it up to our floor. While waiting. Yui let out a moved gasp.

"So that's Yukinon's mom, huh? They really do look alike."

"…I guess so."

True, Yukinoshita did resemble her mother. At the very least, I think their outward appearances and surface demeanor were very alike. But on a more intuitive level, she was closer to Haruno-san. I felt like I could understand what Haruno-san had said about her mother back then a little.

"…But, it's like," When Yui began to speak, wondering whether to say or not say, the sound of the elevator went off and the door opened. We both went inside, I pressed the button to the first floor, and Yui spoke up again. It was likely a different matter from earlier. "Then again, I guess Hayato-kun and Yukinon really are childhood friends, huh? I mean, I did hear about it at some point."

"What do you mean by 'really'? It's not like they were lying."

"I know that. They just didn't give off that vibe. If they knew each other from back then, I think it'd be okay if they talked to each other a bit more."

"People have their own circumstances, right? Just because you go to the same school as someone doesn't mean you'll talk to him."

"Mmm, I guess so."

The past is an inviolable domain for only those who are concerned. Beautiful and warm memories aren't the only ones that existed there; so do unsightly and cold ones. It's by having that past that the gap between those memories becomes larger when a discontinuity forms. Accumulating them together is separate from accumulating them individually. While the heights of the accumulation may be the same, they are different peaks that lead to different summits. That difference can change a lot of things. Positions, environments, and even the way someone's name is called. The elevator continued down without making any stops. In the silence, only the low sounds of motion reached my ears.

Our legs shook slightly in response to the vibrations. And down and down we went, just plunging deeper and deeper, silently. The moment when the elevator stopped and we arrived at our floor, I felt looking at the scenery beyond the opened door to be slightly frightening.

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-WG