It’s been a while

“Hey, Kouki-nii?”

“Hm?”

Even after summer break started, the tutoring sessions continued.

It’s mostly thanks to Manami’s hard work, but her grades improved significantly, and it seems the Takanishi parents are pretty satisfied with the results.

Thanks to reviewing my own studies to teach her, I’m feeling optimistic about my grades for the second semester too.

“I wanna visit Kouki-nii’s room sometime!”

“My room?”

“Yeah! I used to go there all the time, but it’s been years! I wanna go again!”

If Manami says she’s coming over, my parents would probably roll out the red carpet. They’d likely tell me to bring Aisa along too…

“Guess it’s fine.”

“Yay! Gotta tell Onee-chan!”

Since it seems like she’s gonna drag Aisa over without me doing anything, I just let Manami head to my room.

◇【Aisa’s Perspective】

“Onee-chan! Onee-chan!”

“Hm? You’re done with Kouki’s tutoring session?”

Manami suddenly barged into my room, so I took off my glasses and turned around. I’ve only been wearing them lately when I’m studying at my desk.

“Oh! You’re studying too, Onee-chan?”

“I just wanna get my homework done early.”

“Right? Kouki-nii’s been making good progress too, y’know!”

“I see…”

Kouki’s always been the diligent type, steadily working away. It’s kinda reassuring to know he hasn’t changed.

“So, what’s up?”

“Oh, right! Remember how I said I wanted to visit Kouki-nii’s room? He said it’s okay!”

“I see… Kouki’s room… Wait, Kouki’s room?”

“Yup!”

Manami nodded enthusiastically.

That conversation… Oh, right, I vaguely remember. Manami was super eager to go, so I told her to ask him about it.

He probably couldn’t say no to her energy. I mentally apologized to Kouki.

“Well, have fun then.”

“Huh? You’re coming too, Onee-chan!”

“What?”

“Kouki-nii seemed like he wanted you to come too!”

Kouki did?

“Well, like, I got that vibe, y’know?”

“I see…”

Kouki wants me to come!?

I can’t let Manami see it on my face…!

But, wait, Kouki? He wants me to come!?

“Onee-chan?”

“Oh! What’s that?”

“I was thinking, when should we go? Got any plans, Onee-chan?”

“Nope!”

Even if I did, I’d cancel everything to go!

“Thought so! I figured as much, so we’ll go once I’m done with my studying!”

“Huh?”

“Get ready and wait for me, okay!”

“Wait, what?”

Today?

Nobody told me! Nobody told me!

Do I have any decent clothes clean from the laundry?

My bangs were acting up a bit today…

And… and, uh, what else…

“Oh, I’ll be seeing Auntie and Uncle after so long…”

I haven’t had a chance to talk properly with them since I started being more aware of Kouki.

“I’m… kinda getting nervous…”

If I’d put this off any longer, I probably wouldn’t have been able to focus on anything.

While thanking Manami for her snap decision, I started getting ready. Maybe she even planned it this way…

◇

“Charge!”

“U-um, sorry for intruding…”

I did say they could come anytime, but… I didn’t expect them to show up right after we talked about it.

I really didn’t think they’d come this soon. Classic Manami.

“Well, look who’s here! My, my, you two have grown into such beauties! I’d be thrilled if either of you snatched up our Kouki!”

“S-snatched!?”

“Ehehe!”

Mom’s joke left Aisa flapping her mouth like a fish, and Manami just laughed, unsure how to react.

“Alright, alright, head up to my room for now. I’ll grab some drinks or something.”

They haven’t been here in years, but they know the house well enough to find my room.

“Oh, I’ll hel—”

“No, just keep an eye on Manami.”

“…Got it.”

Seeing Manami about to bolt up the stairs, Aisa nodded in understanding. Thank goodness for reliable childhood friends.

◇

“So, how did this happen…?”

“Ehehe!”

When I got back to my room, every single book had been pulled off the shelves and stacked all over the place. Not that I’m super attached to them, but still…

“Kou-nii, you letting off steam properly?”

“Huh?”

“I heard every healthy guy’s room is supposed to have some naughty books!”

Who the heck told Manami that!?

“Even in the dictionary or the photo album box… you don’t have anything hidden…”

“No matter how much you look, you won’t find anything…”

I’m a teenage guy, sure, but I’m not dumb enough to keep risky stuff in a room my parents could walk into anytime. Not that that’s the point.

“With Aisa around, how could you…”

“Uh, well… I thought it’d be good to know what Kouki’s into…”

Why… I’m holding my head in my hands.

“Just clean it up already. I can’t even put the snacks down.”

“Yay! Snacks!”

“Clean up first.”

“Yes, sir!”

Manami started tidying up with gusto.

“Hey, those aren’t yours, so be careful.”

“Oh, sorry, Kouki-nii!”

“It’s fine, there’s nothing too precious there anyway.”

The shelves just had dictionaries, photo albums, study guides, last year’s textbooks, stuff like that.

“But Kouki, you always arrange these by how often you use them.”

She notices the smallest things…

As Aisa neatly reorganized everything, the shelves actually ended up more convenient, with the stuff I use most closer at hand.

“Now for the snacks!”

“The manga you were reading is in that drawer over there.”

“Really!?”

Manami’s eyes sparkled. I think part of why shy little Manami changed was thanks to the shonen manga at our house. It’s probably why her playstyle and conversation leaned more toward the guy side.

“As for Aisa…”

What did Aisa do when she came over…?

I remember a shy Manami getting lost in manga in the corner, but I can’t recall what Aisa did when she visited…

“Don’t worry about me.”

“Right.”

Aisa’s gaze dropped to the floor as she reached for the snacks. Then she opened a photo album that had been left out.

“This takes me back.”

“Yeah, we really were together all the time, huh?”

It’s my album, obviously, since it’s in my room, but every page she flipped through had both of them in it.

Sports festivals, entrance ceremonies, events like that, sure, but also pictures of us wearing matching jinbei, playing blindfolded watermelon splitting, or Manami being carried, fast asleep with her mouth open.

“This one…”

There was even a photo of us messing around in the bath together, which felt kinda weird to see now.

“Oh! So nostalgic!”

Just as Manami finished reading her manga, she joined us as we flipped through the pages.

“Camping! So nostalgic! I wanna go again!”

“Oh yeah, we did that, didn’t we?”

The Fujino and Takanishi families used to go camping together every year. It stopped at some point, but summer used to mean camping.

“Oh, that sounds nice.”

“When did you even come in…?”

“Hehe, who knows? You guys were so engrossed you didn’t notice.”

Mom had slipped into the room with a tray in hand. This is exactly why I can’t keep anything risky in here… but whatever, it’s fine for now.

I gratefully accepted the juice she brought.

“If you kids are hanging out and talking like this again, maybe we should do it this year.”

“Do what?”

“Camping, of course.”

Mom’s sudden suggestion.

“Yay!”

Manami practically leaped with excitement.

Aisa and I exchanged glances, but we both know once my parents decide something, there’s no stopping them, so we didn’t say anything. Not like we’re against it or anything.

And just like that, our families’ big event was revived.