Chapter 17: Let's go on a date

"—H-Hey... Yuuki!"

"Mmmn...?"

Someone shook me awake.

Blinking my eyes open, there she was—Towa, same as always. Close enough to touch. I reached out, brushing her cheek—

"Mornin’, Towa.""Nn! Mornin’, Yuuki!"

I pulled my hand back and sat up.

"What’s for breakfast today?"

Lately, Towa’s been eating breakfast at my place. Her parents are swamped with work, leaving before she even wakes up.

"Fufufu~ Prepare to be shocked—then laugh!"

"Huh? Am I supposed to laugh?"

"Hah? Obviously not, dumbass!"

"Make up your mind!"

"Nyaha-ha!"

Typical Towa. Always floating just out of reach, impossible to pin down—and that’s exactly what makes her fun.

"Auntie~! Yuuki’s up!""Thanks, Towa-chan! Sorry to always dump this on you~"

"No worries! C’mon, Yuuki, hurry! Today’s breakfast is tonjiru!"

"Hell yeah!"

I scrambled out of my pajamas. Towa kept staring the whole time.

"...What?"

"Nothin’~? Hurry up and change, ’kay?"

"...Grr."

Ugh, being watched like this makes my skin crawl. Whatever—no time to dwell.

With Towa's help, I threw on the outfit she picked: a white shirt, thin black jacket, and jeans. Nice. She’s got an eye for this stuff.

Downstairs, I greeted Mom—no more "Mama" for me. I’ve outgrown that.

"See? Asking Towa-chan to fetch you always works. And she picks your clothes, too!"

"She’s just got good taste."

"Nyaha-ha! Here’s your share, Yuuki."

"Thanks."

I took a sip of the tonjiru. Perfectly balanced—rich pork fat melding with miso, veggies tender without a hint of bitterness. Rice-murderingly good. Next, the tamagoyaki: barely holding together, delicately sweet with a whisper of butter. Flawless.

"Mom, this is the best tonjiru I’ve ever had. Tamagoyaki’s exactly how I like it, too."

"Ohhh~?"

Suddenly, Towa started grinning like a cat.

"The hell? Quit being creepy."

"Yuuki, Towa-chan made that soup and eggs."

"Wha—?!"

Wait. Towa cooked this?

"Nyahaha! Surprised, huh?"

"...I am surprised."

I mean, come on—it’s exactly how I like it.

"That’s amazing, Towa-chan. Honestly? A little too amazing. He says it’s better than my tamagoyaki."

"Nah, nah, nothing beats home cooking! Auntie’s tamagoyaki and tonjiru are my favorites."

"Ohhh~?"

"Ghk—!"

Mom immediately glomped Towafor the compliment. So embarrassing. Please stop.

"Towa-chan, you’ll make someone a wonderful wife one day."

That one line made me twitch.

Yeah, Towa would be the perfect wife. But the idea of her marrying someone—I can’t picture it. Don’t want to picture it...

"Nyahaha! Glad to hear it!"

"......"

Her cheerful reply to Mom’s words sounded... hollow. Like a smile painted over something fragile.

For a second, her voice seemed to whisper:

"One day, I’ll disappear."

Like it was already inevitable.

"Let's go."

"Hold up a sec."

Towa stopped me, reaching up to smooth down my bedhead with her fingers.

"Didn't have to."

"Yuuki, this is called etiquette. Gotta look presentable."

"Yeah, yeah."

I let her fuss over me until she finally stepped back, satisfied.

"My, my~"

"...Mom, don't read into it."

"She's right! Just fixing Yuuki's usual sloppiness."

"Oh, I know~"

Does she, though? Mom’s been misreading our relationship for a while now.

"We're heading out."

"Have fun, you two!"

I left for the mall first.

I’d suggested going together, but Towa insisted, "Girls need prep time, y'know?" Not sure if she should’ve lumped herself in with "girls" like that, though.

Thirty minutes of impatient waiting later—just as I considered going home out of spite—

"S-Sorry to keep you~!""Took you long enou—... Towa?"

There she was. Wait—was that really her?

Gone was her usual oversized hoodie. Instead, she wore that white dress from before, paired with a black parasol. A side of her I’d never seen.

"...You look... really pretty."

"Huh? Say something?"

"N-Nah! Nothing!!"

I couldn’t meet her eyes. What’s wrong with me?

"C’mon, let’s go!"

"R-Right—"

She grabbed my hand like it was nothing. I froze for a second before stumbling after her.

My heartbeat’s too loud. Can she hear it?My palms are sweating. Is she grossed out?My face is burning. Do I look normal?

"?? What’s up, Yuuki?"

"N-Noth—! Nnyah-thing!"

Ugh, I stuttered! So lame!!

Calm down. Stay cool.

While I was busy internally combusting, Towa—oblivious as ever—suddenly...

"...Hey!"

—whacked me on the head.

"Ow! The hell?!""Nyahaha! Priceless!"

She laughed until tears welled up, then flashed a smug grin.

"Couldn’t sleep from excitement? So immature, Yuuki~"

"Excuse you? Look who’s talking—your eye bags are legendary."

"Wha—?! Seriously?!"

"Nope! Psyche!!"

"You—!!"

...Yeah. This was the Towa I knew.

"Tch... Let’s just go."

She smirked, tossing her hair—

"Alright then... Let’s go on that date."

—teasing me outright.

"Yeah!"

I grinned back, matching her energy.

And together, we started walking.

...This’ll be a fun day.