Liquid Inspiration

A/N: Re-written, and hopefully, much improved this time around.


Liquid Inspiration

Vol 0. Chapter 2 - Bonds and Memories


Ayanokōji Kiyotaka

A month had passed since Eiichiro introduced me to Tsubasa. That same day, the dark-haired boy decided that we would be hanging out every Friday and Saturday because he wanted us to grow closer.

When I asked Eiichiro about his insistence on making sure Tsubasa and I eventually become close friends, he said that it wasn't just out of his wish for me to grow but also for Tsubasa's sake.

Although the blonde-haired girl was already miles ahead of me when it came to being social and adjusting to her peers, she apparently had her own battles to endure.

And for some reason, Eiichiro believed that Tsubasa and I could help each other.

Well, I've picked up a few things from being around her, that was for sure. But was she able to take something from being around me?

I found it unlikely, but Eiichiro seemed to see something that I couldn't.

"You have to trust me, Kiyotaka," Eiichiro said, trying to appear convincing. "I've known Tsubasa-chan for years now. I could definitely tell from a glance that she appreciates having you around."

"That much is obvious. But that isn't what I was thinking about. I'm wondering if she learned something from being around me," I replied.

It was a rather random thought that crossed my mind after recalling one of the modules we'd had in the White Room centered around Bandura's Social Learning Theory.

This particular module wasn't about raw knowledge, martial arts, or critical thinking, as many of the other courses were. Instead, it delved into the psychological aspects of human interaction and the role of social influence.

The core idea was simple: much of human learning occurs in a social context. We observe others, mimic their actions, and internalize their attitudes, sometimes without even realizing it.

This theory explained how people could learn new behaviors by observing others, especially those they considered role models or held in high esteem.

In the White Room, this wasn't taught through conventional means. We were often put in carefully orchestrated social scenarios designed to test and enhance our ability to absorb and adapt social cues and behaviors.

The instructors emphasized the importance of being both a keen observer and an effective influencer.

That said, I probably have work to do to achieve the latter. Although I have understood in detail how the theory functions in practice, I highly doubt people would easily be influenced by me, considering my demeanor.

"I'm sure she picked up something. Don't worry about it, Kiyotaka," Eiichiro said, interrupting my reverie.

It would seem that, like me, the other boy was also lost in his thoughts. His head, tilted upwards, with eyes facing the ceiling, was an easy indicator of a person in thought.

At that moment, I decided to shift the topic in another direction. "So why did you ask Tsubasa and I if we could hang out today? It's a Sunday, isn't it?"

He turned his head to me, giving me a bemused look, as though I'd just sprouted a second head. "Eh? So what if it's a Sunday?"

"You set the schedule for Fridays and Saturdays," I pointed out.

That should be pretty obvious, considering Eiichiro himself decided on that arrangement.

Eiichiro chuckled, "And? Friends hang out whenever they can. Spontaneous trips are way more fun, trust me!"

"Is that how it works?"

"Of course! Honestly, it's not that complicated. You and your friend want to hang out? You go out and do just that... even without any plans on what you'd immediately do. It'll just come naturally anyway," he explained.

"Ah... I see."

Although I understood what he said, it was still a difficult concept to grasp. After all, I was honed to function in a way that my actions serve a specific intent.

Eiichiro's explanation was a stark departure from that, suggesting that people could do something together simply because they wanted to—no motives other than enjoying each other's company.

I still had much to learn, it would seem.


At around 10 AM, Eiichiro and I met with Tsubasa in the same park where we first met three weeks ago.

The blonde-haired girl was chatting with another girl when we spotted her. It appeared to be a short discussion as Tsubasa was left by her lonesome a few moments later.

"Yo!"

Eiichiro's casual yet loud greeting immediately caught Tsubasa's attention. Actually, I'd wager it got the attention of the entire park.

"Eiichiro-kun, Kiyotaka-senpai!" She greeted back as she sent us a wave.

"Good morning, Tsubasa," I greeted her curtly.

"Was that Nakajima-san? I almost didn't recognize her without her glasses," Eiichiro asked, pointing at the retreating form of the aforementioned girl.

"Yes, that was Nakajima-san. She looks pretty without her glasses, doesn't she?" Tsubasa answered, then fired back a question that sounded more cheeky than inquisitive.

"Eh... sure, I guess?"

Eiichiro was unsure what to make of that question.

"That's not how you answer that question, Eiichiro-kun," Tsubasa chided the dark-haired boy, giggling as she did.

"How was he supposed to answer?" I asked.

Turning her gaze to me, she simply smiled. "You say yes, Kiyotaka-senpai. It's that simple. But I guess Eiichiro-kun here is not as good at etiquette as he believes himself to be," she replied.

"To think I'd be hearing an etiquette lesson from Tsubasa-chan of all people," Eiichiro mumbled.

Tsubasa took no offense to the remark and giggled instead. "Come on, Eiichiro-kun, you're usually not so guarded with your opinions. What's with that diplomatic answer?"

Eiichiro laughed. "Well, I guess even I can be caught off guard. Nakajima-san's transformation just took me by surprise, that's all."

"Like Clark Kent without his glasses," he added.

"Who's Clark Kent?" Tsubasa asked, confusion evident on her face.

"Ah... right, you don't watch those movies," Eiichiro said, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "It's Superman's alter ego. Basically, nobody could tell Clark Kent and Superman were the same person even if the only disguise was that Kent wears eyeglasses."

"Oh! You're saying that Nakajima-san is almost unrecognizable without glasses," Tsubasa said, feeling proud of herself for figuring that out.

"Eh... let's go with that," Eiichiro replied, chuckling.

With that, I decided it was time to change the topic.

"Eiichiro, do you actually have a plan for what we'll do today?" I asked.

"Hmm, not really," Eiichiro admitted with a grin. "I thought we could just explore the city a bit, maybe find a nice café or something. The whole point is to enjoy our time together without any specific agenda, you know?"

"How does that even make sense?" Tsubasa asked.

"It's a guy thing. You'll eventually figure out what you wanna do after some minutes of exploring. Trust me, that's how it works," Eiichiro replied.

"Hmm, so we're just going with the flow, then?"

"Exactly!" Eiichiro exclaimed. "No plans, just spontaneous fun."

"Ah... guess we'll leave everything to you then, Eiichiro," I replied.

Eiichiro gave me a friendly pat on the back, "Of course! Just trust me on this; we'll have fun."

With that said, he began walking away from the park and towards the city. Tsubasa and I exchanged glances, shrugged, and followed suit.


After a few minutes of walking, the three of us found ourselves in front of an empty football pitch.

"Huh," Eiichiro said, glancing around, "The grass is too long, and the crossbars are rusty... It's clear nobody had bothered to clean this field for a while."

As we stood there, taking in the neglected state of the pitch, Eiichiro's words made sense. The grass was indeed longer than it should be, and the crossbars were indeed rusty. Even the benches had a layer of dust on them.

"Hmm..." Eiichiro mumbled, his eyes still surveying the pitch. "Oh!"

"Did you see something?"

A smile formed on his face. "This is perfect!" He suddenly exclaimed, confusing both Tsubasa and me.

"What's perfect, Eiichiro-kun?" Tsubasa asked, tilting her head.

Eiichiro pointed to a football, which was lying on the farthest bench on the pitch.

"Look at that ball, just lying there on the ground. We could have some fun with that," he said, excitement in his voice.

"But I've never played football," Tsubasa confessed, glancing my way for support.

I could only offer a shrug. "Neither have I."

Eiichiro's grin widened. "Well, that's even better. It'll be more fun that way."

Approaching the ball, he scooped it up and started to juggle it with gentle kicks.

"How about I teach you guys how to play? Let's start with the basics," he suggested.

The ball danced under Eiichiro's control, and even without an eye for the sport, I could tell he was incredibly skilled.

"Football is about control and vision," he began. "It's not just kicking aimlessly but moving with purpose."

"Watch closely," he continued, shifting the ball from one foot to the other with effortless precision. "When you dribble, your goal is not just keeping the ball close. You also have to make it do what you want, using the inside, outside, and bottom of your foot."

He demonstrated each technique: the inside for control, the outside for direction changes, and the sole for stopping the ball dead.

"Now, observe how I shift my weight," Eiichiro instructed, fluidly moving around the ball. "It's all about balance and anticipation. When you dribble, you're not just playing with the ball but also reading the game, predicting opponents' moves before they happen."

"And you'll carry over the same principles with shooting. Good dribbling fundamentals would give you chances to shoot," he added.

I felt like I was watching a five-minute YouTube crash course on how to play the sport.

Then, Eiichiro moved the ball near the large rectangular area. "Now, here's the fun part— shooting. When you shoot, plant your non-kicking foot beside the ball, keep your eyes on the spot you want to hit and follow through with your kicking leg."

With a swift motion, he demonstrated, sending the ball into the net with a satisfying thud.

"Basically, aim for the goal... and try not to trip over your own feet," he said with a laugh. "It's really not as hard as it looks."

"Easy for you to say, Eiichiro-kun. You're on the school's varsity team," Tsubasa replied, sighing.

"That's right," he said with a proud nod as he picked up the ball from the goal. "But I'm sure I can teach you two up-and-comers a thing or two."

Was he trying to pretend like he was an aged mentor who had just discovered two talentless kids who got bullied by the talented antagonists?

I guess I could play along.

"Can you show me your shooting technique again? I noticed you rotated your foot a certain way," I asked.

Eiichiro grinned. "Sure, sure. It's actually pretty simple," he said, positioning the ball for another demonstration. "The rotation of the foot is crucial. It's not just about power; it's about precision and how you want the ball to behave."

He approached the ball again, his focus evident. "When I shoot, I angle my foot so that I hit the ball with the instep. This part," he pointed to the curved area on his shoe, "gives me both power and control."

Eiichiro ran up to the ball and kicked it with a smooth, fluid motion. As he made contact, his foot rotated slightly, angling the ball towards the far corner of the makeshift goal. The ball soared through the air, curling just as it approached the net, and landed in the goal with a precise thud.

"That rotation," he continued, turning back to us, "adds spin to the ball, making it harder for goalkeepers to predict where it'll end up. It's especially useful for bending shots around a wall of defenders or when you're trying to hit those hard-to-reach corners."

He picked up the ball again before jogging back to us, a grin spreading across his face.

"Your turn now."

"I... actually didn't quite get all of that," Tsubasa admitted, a sheepish smile forming on her face.

"Don't worry too much about it, Tsubasa-chan. I just explained it that way because Kiyotaka's robot brain couldn't process it otherwise," Eiichiro said with a snicker. "All you have to do is focus on the part of the ball you're hitting and the follow-through of your leg."

With a light kick, Eiichiro passed the ball to Tsubasa, encouraging her to give it a try.

Tsubasa stepped up, her brows furrowed in concentration. Despite her admission of never having played football before, there was a natural athleticism to her movements, a raw, untapped potential that seemed to come alive as she eyed the goal.

With a deep breath, she took her shot. The ball rocketed from her foot with more power than I expected and sailed straight into the net.

"That kick sure had bad intentions to it, Tsubasa-chan," Eiichiro remarked as he picked up the ball from the goal.

The blonde-haired girl's cheeks tinged red at the teasing, "No... I was just doing what you said. I focused on where I'd hit and then the follow-through."

"Relax! I'm just pulling your leg," he reassured her.

Then, Eiichiro turned his attention to me. "Your turn, Kiyotaka."

I nodded, stepping forward to take my position. The brief tutorial from Eiichiro had been clear, but executing it myself felt entirely different. I focused on the mechanics he'd described: the placement of the non-kicking foot, the angle of the kick, and especially the rotation of the foot for that desired spin.

Drawing on my observations, I attempted to replicate Eiichiro's technique.

As my foot connected with the ball, I attempted to impart the same spin Eiichiro had, aiming for the corner of the goal. The ball flew with both power and a trace of the desired curve, but as it neared the goal, it was clear my angle was just slightly off.

Instead of curling into the net, it struck the upper corner of the crossbar with a resounding thud, the sound echoing off the empty stands, and then ricocheted away from the goal.

A mixed feeling of disappointment and satisfaction washed over me. Disappointment at the miss, but satisfaction in the closeness to achieving the perfect shot.

So it was like that, huh?

Eiichiro clapped, breaking the silence that had followed my shot. "That was really close, Kiyotaka! You've got a good grasp on the technique, just a bit off on the execution. But that's something that comes with practice."

Tsubasa, still slightly flushed from her successful shot, offered an encouraging smile. "That was amazing, Kiyotaka-senpai! It looked like it was going straight in!"

I nodded, acknowledging their support. "Thanks. It seems I need to adjust my approach slightly next time."

Eiichiro, seemingly sensing what I wanted to do, asked, "Do you want to give it another go?"

"Yes, I think I've got a better feel for it now," I responded.

Eiichiro nodded, a knowing smile on his face, as he passed the ball back to me. I took a moment to collect my thoughts, analyzing the slight misjudgments in my earlier attempt.

The nuances of Eiichiro's technique were starting to make sense, and I felt a growing confidence that I would be able to incorporate it in my next attempt.

With a deep breath, I approached the ball once more, my foot connecting with it in a smooth, deliberate motion, sending it spinning towards the goal once more.

The trajectory was better, tracing a path through the air that seemed promising, its arc bending towards the goal. Yet, as it approached, the spin wasn't enough to tuck it inside the post.

Instead, it clipped the outside of the post, a near-miss that was closer than the last.

Closer, yet still not there.

And somehow, that didn't make me feel any semblance of discouragement.

"That was even closer, Kiyotaka!" Eiichiro exclaimed. "You're practically there."

Tsubasa nodded in agreement. "Yeah, you almost had it! It's really impressive how quickly you're picking this up... but... you probably would have gotten it already if you weren't trying to replicate Eiichiro-kun's shot from earlier, senpai."

"So you noticed it too, huh, Tsubasa-chan?" Eiichiro mused. He had a look of amusement on his face that, for some reason, I wanted to wipe off.

"Yes, I wanted to see if I could do exactly what Eiichiro did. Replicating his shot seemed like the best way to understand and learn," I answered.

It wasn't.

But I had my reasons for wanting to replicate that specific shot.

Eiichiro, who just picked up the ball from where it landed, placed it below my foot.

"Then give it one more try. You've almost cracked it," he encouraged.

With a nod, I positioned myself again, but this time, I took a moment longer, visualizing the trajectory of the ball, the necessary spin, and how my foot would need to connect to achieve it.

A few seconds later, the adjustments I had mentally noted were now in play; my foot angled slightly differently, and my gaze fixed not just on the ball but on the specific part of the goal I aimed to hit.

And when my foot struck the ball, there was a sense of rightness, a perfect alignment of intent and action.

The ball flew, spinning with the exact curve and speed that Eiichiro had demonstrated. It sailed past the imaginary defenders, bending just beyond the reach of an unseen goalkeeper, and landed in the net with a gratifying sound.

It was the exact replication of Eiichiro's shot.

Eiichiro's eyes widened in surprise. "Your ability to adapt and learn is... frankly, a bit frightening. It went exactly where my goal landed... that's..."

For one moment, I thought Eiichiro was displeased. That was until he slapped me on my back and let out a hearty laugh.

"That's just next level, dude! You're literally like a character straight out of 'Captain Tsubasa'! But you're definitely the antagonist... because Tsubasa is right here," he joked, pointing a thumb at Tsubasa, who, like me, didn't get the joke.

"Captain who?" she asked, her eyebrows knitting together in bewilderment.

Eiichiro laughed even harder, realizing his reference might have flown over our heads. "Captain Tsubasa is a manga about a kid who dreams of winning the World Cup for Japan. Tsubasa himself could copy and adapt any techniques he sees his opponents do," he explained.

Seeing our blank stares, he added, "Remind me to give you two cavemen a crash course on what's cool. You guys can't be without manga knowledge at your age."

Tsubasa's expression shifted from confusion to mock offense. "Cavemen? Really, Eiichiro-kun? Because the last time I checked, a biohazard site for a room didn't exactly scream 'modern man.'"

The jab caught Eiichiro off guard, his eyes widening as he processed the insult. "Hey, it's not the worst room out there, and you know it, Tsubasa-chan! And who taught you how to talk like that?"

"Kiyotaka-senpai said a few days ago that it would be funny if I made fun of you once in a while," she admitted.

Hey, don't throw me under the bus, Tsubasa.

Eiichiro turned to me, an exaggerated look of betrayal on his face. "Kiyotaka? How could you poison Tsubasa-chan's innocent mind? She's already perfect the way she is!"

I shrugged and said, "I thought it'd be funny to see your reaction."

"Well, that makes one of us," Eiichiro grumbled, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Two of us, actually. Tsubasa clearly enjoyed seeing the look on your face," I countered.

Tsubasa, catching Eiichiro's gaze, simply gave an innocent smile. "Sorry, Eiichiro-kun!"

She definitely wasn't sorry at all.

"So, what do you two want to do now?" he asked, changing the subject. "We could have the two of you play against me if you'd like."

"Well, I think we've spent enough time here. We're not exactly dressed to play, Eiichiro. How about we head out for lunch?" I suggested.

"Only if it's Eiichiro-kun's treat," Tsubasa replied.

"Fine, fine. Lunch on me. But you two are cleaning my room in return," Eiichiro countered.

"Ah... I think I have enough money on me," I replied.

"Me too," Tsubasa added.

Eiichiro shot the two of us a dry look.

"I hate you guys..."


After having lunch, the three of us decided to head back to the mansion, with Eiichiro calling Tsubasa's mother to tell her about her whereabouts.

We had been here for about an hour now, and I must say that it... had been quite uneventful. For all his claims of a spontaneous hangout being more fun, I had expected something more.

But perhaps it was just my expectations that made it feel uneventful to me.

Although Tsubasa, who was seated across me, seemed to be having fun listening to Eiichiro's stories about school.

"I'm telling you guys, the next time I see Okada, I'll smack him on the back of the head," he claimed.

Eiichiro was talking about one of his school friends who apparently told Eiichiro's crush that he might have a crush on her, much to the dark-haired boy's embarrassment.

He wasn't ready to confess, he said.

"Then you should have been mindful of who you share your secrets with," I quipped.

That had been my role over the past half an hour, listening and, sometimes, telling Eiichiro what I had to say.

"Kiyotaka! You were supposed to take my side," Eiichiro replied with mock indignation. "You should have been like, 'I'll back you up, Eiichiro! Let's kick Okada's ass' or something more encouraging."

"Ah... is that so?"

Eiichiro threw his hands up in defeat and shook his head in amusement. "I was just kidding, Kiyotaka. But at this point, I'm finding it hard to tell if you're still that ignorant or if you just find it amusing to see how I'd react."

Tsubasa, who had been silent for most of the conversation, spoke up, "So you're not actually going to hit Okada-san?"

The dark-haired boy snorted in response. "I wasn't planning on actually hitting him. But maybe he'll learn from a headlock."

"I didn't know you were a bully in school, Eiichiro. Guess we learn new things every day," I said off-handedly as I opened the small ice cream tub that Asuka had given me earlier.

Eiichiro's eyes widened, and he quickly waved his hands in front of him. "No, no, it's not like that! I'm not a bully. It's just... Okada and I have this kind of friendship where we mess with each other. It's all in good fun, I promise."

"I just don't understand why people think it's like social suicide if their crush found out about their crush on them," I replied. "People are odd."

Statistically speaking, the likelihood of developing a successful relationship with one's crush tends to be higher for those who confess their feelings compared to those who choose inaction.

After all, 0.01% is still higher than 0%.

"Eh... not exactly social suicide," Eiichiro chuckled. "People just fear rejection, and I guess I'm part of that crowd too."

"If Hayasaka-san rejects you, I don't think it'd be the end of the world, Eiichiro-kun," Tsubasa thoughtfully said.

"Easier said than done, Tsubasa-chan," Eiichiro sighed, leaning back and staring at the ceiling as if it held the answers to his predicament. "It's not just about being rejected. It's about everything changing. I like things the way they are now, even if I wish they could be... different."

From what Eiichiro had shared, he and Hayasaka were very close friends who bonded after being seatmates this year. They also share a lot of interests and would even hang out after classes.

With that, I suppose it was normal for him to have to grapple between keeping the status quo or risking it all for something more.

"Change is inevitable, Eiichiro," I said, gaining his attention. "Whether you choose to act on your feelings or not, your relationship with Hayasaka-san is bound to evolve. It's about deciding which direction you want that evolution to take."

I didn't know what had gotten into me at that moment, but I felt like I had to say something that could perhaps help Eiichiro out.

Psychologically speaking, this aversion to change is deeply ingrained in our desire for stability and predictability. It's a defense mechanism, one that shields people from the potential pain of rejection or the loss of a comfortable dynamic.

"Consider this," I continued, trying to articulate my thoughts in a way that might resonate with Eiichiro, "every interaction, every choice, is a step towards a version of ourselves that is more aligned with our desires, or away from it. By not acting on your feelings, you are choosing to remain in a state of limbo, dictated by the fear of disrupting the status quo. Yet, the irony is that the status quo is but a momentary illusion, constantly shaped and reshaped by the very dynamics you're trying to preserve."

The impulse to advise Eiichiro stemmed, perhaps, from my own confrontation with change. I was navigating my own path through unfamiliar terrain, challenging the boundaries of my existence in ways I had never anticipated.

And perhaps... I also wanted to convince myself that I could be capable of change.

I shook my head at the thought.

Of course, I was.

But genuine change... now, that would be a different story.

"I didn't expect to be lectured by you of all people, Kiyotaka," Eiichiro said with a chuckle, cutting me off from my reverie. "In relationships of all things. That's the exact thing I was supposed to teach you, man!"

"It wasn't like you didn't know what I was talking about. You just needed to hear it from another person," I replied.

It would be inaccurate to assume that I knew better than Eiichiro in this situation. After all, Eiichiro lived and experienced life in the real world.

I only knew what I knew from the virtual world that the White Room had shown me, and as realistic as the simulations were, they wouldn't be able to match the real thing.

Eiichiro leaned back, the amusement fading into a thoughtful expression as he mulled over my words. "I appreciate it, Kiyotaka. Thank you."

After I gave him a quiet nod, the room eventually fell into a comfortable silence.

"Well, you know where I stand, Eiichiro-kun," Tsubasa said gently. "Whatever you decide to do, I'll support you."

Eiichiro smiled. "Thank you, Tsubasa-chan! But enough about my love life already. I didn't ask the two of you to hang out just for us to have this heavy atmosphere the entire afternoon."

"We have Kiyotaka-senpai to blame for that," Tsubasa replied with a giggle. "He became philosophical all of a sudden."

"You got a point there, Tsubasa-chan! Somehow, someway, this robot of a guy made things somber. I was just talking about hitting Okada earlier, and now, we're here!"

Eiichiro let out a laugh that felt like he had let go of an anvil strapped to his back.

"Ah... sorry about that. I just got carried away."

Eiichiro shook his head. "There's no need to apologize, Kiyotaka. Honestly, I didn't know that I needed that conversation. I'm actually glad it happened."

"So... are you going to confess to Hayasaka-san?" Tsubasa asked.

There was a certain excitement to that question that seemed uncharacteristic for someone like Tsubasa. But I suppose girls were just meant to react that way pertaining to romance.

"Hey now! I still have a lot of thinking to do, you know? I can't rush this," Eiichiro replied as he stretched his arms upwards.

"But, thanks to Kiyotaka's unexpected wisdom, I'm definitely going to consider it more seriously. Maybe... it's not as scary as I thought. Or maybe it's just as scary. Man! This is so unlike me," he continued, chuckling while also shaking his head at the supposed ridiculousness of the situation.

As he had said, he wasn't one to overthink relationships. If anything, Eiichiro was so brazen that he would just do what his instincts told him, and somehow, it would work out for the best.

That was the Eiichiro I knew—a person who acted more on impulse than on prolonged contemplation.

Yet, here he was, considering his next steps with a level of caution and thoughtfulness that was uncharacteristic of him.

I suppose romance would have that effect on most people.

"As long as you're true to yourself, Eiichiro," I offered, "I think you'll make the right choice, regardless of the outcome."

Tsubasa nodded in agreement, her eyes soft with empathy. "Exactly!"

"Well, enough about that! Really, thank you for your support... but we're here to relax, you know? To have fun," Eiichiro said, making another attempt to change the topic.

I suppose we've already talked enough about his love life.

"But I think I'm having fun seeing this side of you, Eiichiro-kun," Tsubasa replied.

Eiichiro's expression softened, and he let out a laugh. "Guess I can't be cool all the time," he joked.

"I don't think you're cool all the time, if that helps," I quipped.

Eiichiro let out a snort, a mix of amusement and mock offense coloring his response. "Gee, thanks. Your support has touched my heart, Kiyotaka."

Eventually, the conversation shifted seamlessly from Eiichiro's school stories to him telling us about what was 'trendy' in today's world. Apparently, he couldn't stand the thought of us remaining ignorant of popular culture and took it upon himself to ensure we would not be social outcasts.

But his efforts were more directed at me than Tsubasa because, apparently, people would just find Tsubasa's ignorance of these things to be cute.

Now, that was just unfair.


It was already past 6 PM when we heard a car pull up outside, and at the honk of the car's horn, Tsubasa stood up from her seat.

"Oh, I guess it's time for me to go," she said with a smile. "Thank you for today, Eiichiro-kun, Kiyotaka-senpai. I had fun!"

Eiichiro and I rose as well, with the dark-haired boy mirroring her smile. I chose to just offer her a simple nod.

"I'm glad you had fun, Tsubasa-chan. We should definitely hang out like this sometime," Eiichiro replied.

"That would be great, Eiichiro-kun. Making new memories with friends is always a good thing... even if you haven't really planned anything out," Tsubasa teased, her laughter light and easy as she headed out of the door.

"Ah, hold on, Tsubasa..."

"Kiyotaka-senpai?" She asked quizzically, a little confused at my call.

"Eiichiro and I will walk you out to your car. It's the least we can do after you spent the day with us."

Tsubasa's face lit up with a grateful smile, nodding in agreement. "Thank you, that's very kind of you both."

As we walked her to the car, the evening air carried a coolness that was a stark contrast to the day's warmth. The fading light painted soft shadows on the ground, stretching long and thin like the day behind us.

Reaching the car, Tsubasa's mother greeted us with a warm smile.

It was the third time that I had seen Nanase Tsunade, and her aura was still as welcoming as it felt when I first saw her a couple of weeks ago.

If I had to place a comparison, it would be like the calm you feel in the early morning, just as the world wakes up.

Tsubasa sure was lucky to have someone like that as her mother.

"It was nice seeing you again, Eiichiro-kun, Kiyotaka-kun," the older Nanase said, her voice carrying the same warmth as her smile. "Thank you for taking care of Tsubasa-chan today."

"It's nice seeing you again, Nanase-san. Thank you for letting Tsubasa spend the day with us. We had plenty of fun," Eiichiro responded, his usual ebullience tempered with respect.

I offered a nod in agreement, finding words unnecessary when Eiichiro had already expressed our mutual sentiments perfectly.

Tsubasa's mother chuckled. "How many times do I have to tell you to stop being so formal around me, Eiichiro-kun? I'm having a hard time believing Tsubasa-chan's stories about you being lively when you're so polite around me."

Eiichiro scratched the back of his head, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "I'll try to remember that, Nanase-san."

The older woman nodded her head in satisfaction before turning her attention to me. "You should try to talk more, Kiyotaka-kun. The more you get used to talking, the more expressive your voice could get," she said teasingly.

"Kaa-san, don't be mean to Kiyotaka-senpai!" Tsubasa scolded her mom.

"Sweetie, I'm pretty sure Kiyotaka-kun could tell I was joking," she replied, her amusement evident at her daughter's remarks.

"Of course," I said, offering a small nod to show I took her comment in stride. "I'll keep that in mind. But I can't promise I'll become anything like Eiichiro anytime soon."

Tsubasa's mother laughed at that. "That's alright. It's always good to have a balance. Eiichiro-kun's energy and your calmness make a good team, I think."

Tsubasa, perhaps sensing her mother's readiness to leave, turned to us. "Really, thank you again for today. It was a lot of fun."

After giving Eiichiro and me quick hugs, Tsubasa finally got inside the car, waving at us as her mother started the engine.

We waved back, watching the car drive off until its lights disappeared around the corner.

Eiichiro and I stood there for a moment longer, soaking in the quiet that followed the car's departure.

"Well, that was nice," Eiichiro finally broke the silence, stretching his arms above his head. "So, did you actually have fun, Kiyotaka?"

"I did. It wasn't the conventional type of fun, but I suppose there's an appeal to what we've done today."

"Hey now, you're making it feel like all we did today was talk," Eiichiro said, nudging my sides. "Did you just forget that sick goal you had earlier? I was still shocked at how quickly you were able to replicate my kick, you know? That was insane!"

"Yes, that was unexpectedly enjoyable," I admitted. "Your reaction was an added bonus. I almost thought you were mad I was able to copy what you did."

Eiichiro laughed, the sound echoing slightly in the quiet evening. "Mad? No way, man. I was impressed! If anything, you'll be the first one that'll come to mind if some of my friends would ask me to play them."

"Please don't. I wouldn't want to waste my time carrying you to a victory," I replied.

Eiichiro's laughter grew louder, ringing with genuine amusement. "Don't get ahead of yourself, you bastard! It did take you three tries to hit that kick," he countered.

"And it probably took you a few hundred before you got that down," I retorted.

Eiichiro shook his head, still chuckling. "Man, I regret encouraging you to say cocky shit like that."

"You'll eventually learn from your mistakes."

"And you're a dick."

As the mansion loomed back into view, the lights from the windows casting a warm glow against the darkening sky, I couldn't help but reflect on the day.

It was different from the other times that I spent time with Eiichiro and Tsubasa. Usually, Eiichiro had planned out an itinerary for us to follow. Like some sort of a training guide in socialization, if you may.

This time around, Eiichiro took off the "training wheels," if you may, and designed an outing more reminiscent of how people our age typically spend time together— unplanned trips with the sole goal of enjoying the day.

The lack of structure initially threw me off, but as the day progressed, I found myself appreciating the spontaneity of it all. It was a stark contrast to my usual days, marked by routine and set objectives.

Today had an element of unpredictability that, surprisingly, didn't unsettle me as much as I thought it would.

"Hey, Kiyotaka, you zoning out on me?" Eiichiro's voice pulled me back from my thoughts.

"Just thinking about today," I admitted.

He then clapped me on the back. "You know, Kiyotaka, I think today was a big step for you. You're opening up more, even if you don't see it yourself."

"Hm... is that so?"

Eiichiro nodded enthusiastically, his usual vibrant energy undiminished by the evening's calm. "Yeah, definitely. You're more... I don't know, present? It's like you're actually here with us, not just physically, but you know, really here."

"And..." he paused, looking at me with a soft smile on his face. "Thank you for the advice earlier."

"You've said that a couple of times already," I pointed out.

"Just accept my thanks, you idiot! And here's another lesson: let your friends get sappy on you," Eiichiro lectured.

"I'll try to keep that in mind."

"Make sure that you do."

"And by the way, Eiichiro," I paused, glancing at him sideways. "Is the reason you're so shy around Tsubasa's mom... the fact you can't keep your eyes away from her breasts?"

Eiichiro stumbled mid-step, almost tripping over his own feet as he whirled to face me, his expression a mix of shock and indignation. "Wha— Kiyotaka! What the hell, man?" His voice was a mix of a whisper-shout, eyes darting around as if checking if anyone had overheard.

I found myself amused at his reaction. It was rare to catch Eiichiro off guard like this, and even rarer still to see him so flustered.

"Are you trying to kill me? Don't say stuff like that out loud!" he hissed, though the faint blush creeping up his neck betrayed his embarrassment.

"It was an observation," I said calmly, continuing our walk back to the mansion. "You seemed... distracted."

Eiichiro ran a hand through his hair, letting out a long sigh. "Okay, first of all, no, that's not it. And second, even if I was—which I'm not—that's super normal, okay?"

His attempt to regain composure might have convinced me if not for the redness in his cheeks.

"I'll take your word for it," I replied. "Super normal, huh?"

"You bastard!"

End of Chapter

A/N: Unfortunately for Eiichiro, teaching Kiyotaka to have quick wits in banters was at the detriment of his own sanity. He should have known his 'innocent peek' wouldn't go unnoticed when Kiyotaka's around.