The promised date and their answer

“Why don’t you and Kouki-nii go to a travel agency and pick a destination since it’s a special occasion?”

That one comment from Manami had brought me and Aisa to the travel agency in front of the station.

Sure, we’d saved up some money from part-time jobs, and it seemed like the perfect timing to plan a trip together, so we made it to the agency’s doorstep… but…

“Uh… aren’t we going in?”

“…Y-You go in first, Kouki.”

Aisa had been all excited on the bus, chattering about “this looks fun” and “that sounds great,” but the closer we got to our destination, the quieter she became.

“You okay…? If you’re feeling off or something, we can come back another day—”

“No way, that’s not happening!”

“Whoa…”

“No way… but, um… just go in first, Kouki!”

Aisa’s face was stiff, a little flushed, and she was clinging to my arm like she’d never let go. I mean, I get it—I’m feeling it too. She’s probably just nervous.

Looking inside, there’s a group of women, but everyone else seems to be couples… or maybe married couples. It’s got this… intense vibe.

Still, we’ve come this far, so we’ve gotta go in.

“Here we go.”

“…!”

Seeing Aisa give a tiny nod, I steel myself and open the door.

“Welcome, thank you for coming!”

“…”

The moment I open the door, a female staff member comes over to guide us.

Aisa’s so nervous she just grips my hand tightly, so I take the lead and sit us down. The woman guiding us smiles warmly at the sight.

“Do you have any destinations, dates, or a budget in mind?”

After getting some tea and filling out our names, we finally get to the main topic as things settle down a bit.

“Uh, we were thinking about a hot spring inn in Izu or something, and since we’re still saving up, we wanted to check how much we’d need.”

Aisa still doesn’t seem ready to talk, so I take over explaining.

We’d gotten a rough sense of the budget from some pamphlets, but with all the campaigns and deals, it was hard to figure out the final cost.

By the way, the pamphlets Manami brought home were so scattered—destinations all over the country—that Izu was the only realistic option.

“I see. Would you be staying for one night?”

Being asked directly makes me second-guess if that’s really okay… I think I’m starting to get why Aisa’s clammed up.

“…Yes.”

“In that case, we have a student discount plan where one night starts at 10,000 yen per person… Even factoring in small additional costs on the day, around 15,000 yen per person should cover some great options. Like this one… or this one…”

“Oh, nice…”

She spreads out pamphlets and flyers, showing us different inns.

They’re cheaper than I expected, with a lot of choices.

“This one includes dinner and breakfast, with a Japanese-style room facing the sea. The view from the open-air bath is highly recommended.”

Finally, Aisa leans forward, showing some interest.

Thank goodness. I was starting to worry she’d stay frozen the whole time.

“This inn also offers a private open-air bath as a complimentary perk.”

I catch Aisa twitch slightly. Come to think of it, she was weirdly fixated on private baths…

“Also, Izu has a lot of zoos, so you could plan around that. This one has a bus that goes straight to a zoo. You could spend the first day enjoying the hot springs and meals at the inn, then have breakfast the next day and visit the zoo before heading back. You don’t even need a car to have a great time.”

“Now that you mention it, we hadn’t really thought about what to do outside the inn…”

“In that case, choosing based on nearby leisure activities could be a good idea. Here are some places you can reach by bus or on foot from the inn…”

She’s a pro, alright—she keeps pulling out more and more options.

“Kouki, this… Manami would love this.”

“Yeah, this one too… wait.”

For some reason, both of us kept gravitating toward things Manami would like.

Thinking about Manami right now…

—No.

I lock eyes with Aisa.

Without saying a word, Aisa and I are on the same page.

“Is it okay if we make it for three people?”

“Huh? Oh, yes, of course!”

I glance at Aisa again.

“Thanks.”

Aisa says with a smile.

It’s like we’d both known from the start how we’d spend our first paychecks.

◇

“Aisa.”

“What’s up?”

The price was fine, we confirmed the dates, and we finished booking the trip.

It’s supposed to be a date, so we grab some food and do a little shopping before walking home together.

I don’t think we made the wrong choice going with three. But I’m Aisa’s boyfriend, so…

“We’ll go on a trip, just the two of us, too, okay?”

“…! Yeah!”

Aisa clings to my arm, her face glowing with a different kind of sparkle than the sisterly smile she had earlier.

◇

“What!? It’s supposed to be a trip for just the two of you!”

“But look, this zoo has a ton of reptiles on display. You love that stuff, don’t you, Manami?”

“That’s… not the point right now!”

We’d talked a few times about when to tell her, but we ended up doing it after tutoring, as usual, while getting treated to dinner at their place.

Since we’d already told their mom to secure the dates, all we do is grin at a shocked Manami.

“Ugh… wasting such a perfect chance on me!”

Manami slumps onto the table, muttering.

“Manami, don’t be rude.”

“But Mom! Onee-chan and Kouki-nii are—!”

“Hehe… they both love you so much, don’t they?”

“That’s… ugh!”

Manami groans, then scoops up a huge helping of kimpira from the big plate and stuffs her face before finally lifting her head, like she’s switched gears.

“You should’ve at least talked to me before deciding!”

She says, shoving a potato in her mouth.

“If we did, you’d have come up with some excuse to say no.”

“Urk… well…”

“Even if you tried to refuse, Aisa and I already decided we’re spending our first paychecks on you.”

“Then just get me, like, mechanical pencil lead or something—I’d be thrilled!”

Mechanical pencil… lead, of all things?

Okay, sure, I can totally picture Manami doing a little happy dance over something like that…

“Isn’t it nice? I’m just happy to see the three of you having fun together again.”

“Mom! They’re dating now! I’d just be in the way!”

“Oh, my. From where I’m standing, it looks like you still have a shot, Manami.”

Takanishi-san’s bombshell comment makes Aisa tense up.

Specifically, she suddenly grabs my arm while I’m trying to eat some shirataki, letting out an adorable little growl. My shirataki falls back onto the plate.

“K-Kouki’s mine… but I want Manami to come too!”

“Onee-chan, you’re so greedy.”

“Shut up!”

That’s Aisa’s best attempt at a fierce warning, apparently.

“Kouki-nii, you better take Onee-chan on a separate date!”

“Of course I will.”

I’m already thinking about saving up so I can cover everything for a trip with just Aisa.

“Hmph… well, if that’s the case… maybe it’s okay.”

“It’s fine. I’m the one saying so.”

Aisa, no longer in growl mode, grabs a carrot and says so.

“Even if I take a bath with Kouki-nii?”

Aisa’s carrot falls onto her plate.

“Haha! Just kidding. But maybe the private bath will be just me and Onee-chan?”

“Right… I wasn’t planning on bathing together anyway.”

Oh, really?

That’s… well, probably for the best. Better than things getting awkward.

…Not that I’d say it’s not a little disappointing.

“Ohhh? So, maybe the three of us could—”

“Three’s even worse, obviously!”

“Even worse?”

“Duh! Ugh, Kouki!”

“Why am I getting yelled at in this conversation!?”

Aisa’s face turns red as Manami teases her.

Talk about catching strays, but… seeing Aisa like this is pretty cute, so I’m okay with it.

“This doesn’t sit right with me.”

Aisa grumbles.

But then Manami says something else.

“Ugh… you two are such a handful, Onee-chan and Onii-chan.”

How long has it been since Manami called me Onii-chan?

I’m not sure if it means anything or nothing at all…

“Jeez… you guys are such a handful…”

Manami mutters again, but her smile is so soft that it’s more than enough for me and Aisa to know we made the right choice.