At that mont, everything about gumi Kato—her expression, the way she casually lifted the shopping bag in her hand—was effortlessly natural.
Left with no choice after having his line stolen, Haru simply went along with it. "I ca to buy so power banks. Gotta make sure everyone's phones don't die when we're having fun at the convention."
"As expected, you're always so thoughtful, Amamiya-kun."
"Save the praise for later. Why are you still standing here? Just look at the sky—it's obviously about to pour."
"Mhm."
gumi nodded slightly, pressing down her wind-blown hat as she gazed up at the dark clouds. "My house is a bit far from here. Even if I run, I probably won't make it back in ti."
Haru couldn't help but chuckle. "So you've just given up?"
"I prefer to call it strategic rain avoidance."
She pointed to a convenience store just ahead.
Clearly, she'd already thought this through.
"Fair point. Guess I don't need to rush either."
Haru decided to follow her lead and strategically avoid the rain as well.
gumi didn't seem to mind. Instead, she glanced toward the group of kids still imrsed in their yo-yo practice. "Aren't you going to show off a little, Amamiya-kun?"
Haru looked at her in surprise.
Calmly, she added, "Utaha senpai told you're really good at yo-yo tricks… and that you enjoy showing off in front of kids."
"That's slander! Absolute slander! I'm a man with aspirations. If I wanted to show off, I could've done it in front of you guys instead!"
"These were Utaha-senpai's words, not mine. I'm just repeating them," gumi replied.
Overhead, the dark clouds seed to thicken even more.
Haru noticed as well. "Let's move ahead first."
But gumi was still watching him. "Are you really not going to show off in front of the kids?"
"...What exactly did Senpai say to you? Why do I feel like I'm being frad here?"
"You're overthinking it. Utaha-senpai only ever praises you—never says anything bad."
"Then why are you so convinced I like showing off in front of kids?"
"Maybe because… Yukinoshita-san also said you're childish?"
Great. As if bringing Utaha into the conversation wasn't enough, now she'd seamlessly dragged Yukino into it as well.
Now, even if Haru wanted to argue back, it'd take him twice the effort.
She's too good at arguing with !
What he didn't see was gumi, now walking ahead of him, her lips curling into a small, amused smile.
Just as they reached the convenience store's awning, the rain finally broke loose.
Pedestrians hurried along, those with umbrellas calmly opening them.
The group of kids who had been playing yo-yos monts ago dashed into a nearby restaurant—probably owned by one of their parents.
Haru glanced at gumi, who stood quietly beside him. "Are you in a hurry to get ho?"
gumi understood his implication and shook her head. "Not really. But if you're in a rush, you could always call your driver."
She and Utaha had ridden in his car before, after all.
"No rush. I'd just be lazing around at ho anyway."
gumi seed to like that answer, her tone lightening a bit. "Are you preparing anything for the convention?"
"Like what?"
"Like cosplay."
The mont he heard that, Haru couldn't help but chuckle. "You an the Hooded Hero?"
gumi nodded. "Mhm. You caused such a huge stir before. There'll definitely be other Hooded Heroes at the convention. If you blend in with them, it'll make for an interesting scene."
Haru sighed. "Like a lone wolf sneaking into a pack of huskies?"
gumi blinked, then smiled. "That's an amusing analogy."
At that mont, the convenience store owner stepped out, holding a sign that read, "Umbrellas 20% Off" in big, bold letters.
He placed it down and imdiately spotted Haru holding nothing but his shopping bag. His face lit up with enthusiasm. "Hey, young man, need an umbrella?"
"No thanks," Haru replied, eyeing the sign. This guy knows how to do business.
The owner chuckled. "This rain's not stopping anyti soon. Are you really gonna let your girlfriend get drenched on the way ho?"
"I'm not his girlfriend," gumi corrected him softly.
The owner was about to continue his sales pitch when the kids from earlier suddenly ran back, their umbrellas bobbing as they shouted in protest.
"Boss, the yo-yos you sold us are defective! No matter how much we practice, we can't pull off the tricks you promised. It's gotta be the yo-yos!"
"Hey now, you little punks, be reasonable! If you're bad at it, just admit it! How can you bla ?"
"Then do you even know how to do the tricks?" one of the kids challenged, their faces red with frustration.
"Of course not!" the owner declared—loudly and without sha.
gumi, standing beside Haru, murmured in confusion, "If he doesn't know how, why is he shouting so confidently?"
"It makes him sound more convincing," Haru replied with a grin.
The kids, unable to outargue the owner, sulked at the store entrance, refusing to leave.
Just as Haru was enjoying the drama, gumi suddenly turned to him. "It's your turn to step in."
"…What?"
"These kids are doubting the yo-yo's quality. Their emotions are at their peak right now. If you show off your skills at this mont, you'll maximize their admiration for you."
"…"
Haru felt a wave of exasperation rise in his throat.
So this was all part of a setup?
The first act was just a warm-up. Now we've reached the climax of the show?
Hearing her use terms like "emotional peak," Haru finally surrendered. "I swear, I really don't enjoy showing off in front of kids."
gumi blinked innocently, then turned to the children and said, "This big brother here is a yo-yo expert. Are you sure you don't want to take this chance to learn from him?"
Haru froze.
The kids froze.
Then, as if a switch had been flipped, their eyes lit up with excitent as they sward around him.
"Big bro, are you really an expert?"
"Mister, can you teach so tricks?"
"I'll buy you a soda! Please teach how to be a yo-yo master!"
Haru could only laugh helplessly as he looked at the eager children, then turned to gumi with an exasperated glance—What's your deal?
gumi tilted her head slightly, her lips curving into a rare, beautiful smile.
I'm giving you a chance to shine!
And of course… I want to see it too.
Haru understood.
She was in a great mood, ready to enjoy so drama—but only if it was her own.
"Everyone, quiet!"
Haru put on a stern face, taking on the role of a serious ntor.
The kids imdiately shut their mouths, their eyes fixed on him with excitent.
"I'm a high schooler, which makes your senior! Now, let's start introductions—you're up first."
"I'm Yuta Hachida!" The first kid he pointed to shouted enthusiastically.
"Good, nice energy. Next!"
One by one, the children gave their nas. Seeing Haru's serious expression, they unconsciously straightened their postures, looking like a group of junior soldiers fresh from a sumr boot camp.
gumi Kato stood silently at the side, watching.
When Haru finally began his yo-yo tricks, effortlessly pulling off a series of visually stunning moves, the kids erupted in cheers.
Once the children were satisfied and left, Haru turned to Kato with a hint of exasperation. "Happy now?"
Kato looked slightly puzzled. "You don't seem very pleased."
"Yeah, I'm actually really mad." Haru intentionally put on a grumpy face.
"But just now, when they were praising you, you looked really happy."
"...That was acting. I'm using every chance I get in life to hone my acting skills."
"I see," Kato mused. "So you're actually really good at lying. You don't even let it show on your face."
The rain gradually eased up, and Haru called for his driver, arranging for Kato to be dropped off first.
On the ride ho, he reflected on the events that had just unfolded and couldn't help but chuckle. "I didn't expect this side of you."
"Which side?" Kato asked, playing along.
"You using to distract the kids—that's not like the quiet, reserved version of you I see in the club."
That's because the person standing next to is you.
Kato's gaze flickered, her voice gentle. "Is that the only question you have?"
Haru paused. "...There's more?"
Kato simply looked at him, offering no answer.
"Can't you at least give a hint?"
"Nope. If I gave hints, it wouldn't be a real guessing ga, would it?"
"But when I play gas alone, I like to use cheat codes."
"Then just think of this as a ga where cheat codes don't exist."
"...How cruel, Kato."
"Thank you for the complint, Amamiya-kun."
Before long, the car arrived at Kato's ho.
Haru handed her an umbrella. "It's still raining outside. Take this—you can return it whenever."
"Thanks."
Kato took it without hesitation. After stepping out of the car and opening the umbrella, she walked forward a few steps before suddenly turning back.
With a small wave, she said softly, "I had a great ti today."
Haru froze.
In that mont, he finally understood what she had ant when she asked, Is that the only question you have?
Kato's approach was completely different from Utaha Kasumigaoka's.
By the ti the realization hit him, she had already turned away.
From suggesting they take shelter at the convenience store, to refusing to let him call the driver too early, to making sure the kids kept him occupied—all of it was just so she could spend more ti with him.
Her steps beca noticeably lighter.
Haru remained silent on the way ho.
He had unintentionally chard another one.
But... when had it started?
Logically speaking, that "magic high jump" incident when they were kids only left an impression on her—it was just the reason she recognized him and joined the photography club in high school.
But for that impression to develop into actual feelings, into sothing like this... surely, that alone wasn't enough?
"Helping others at school during the day, then going out at night to play hero... Amamiya-kun, you're such a good person."
A mory surfaced—sothing Kato had once said.
Was it because of that?
He wasn't sure.
_ _ _ _
Saturday arrived—the day of the convention.
Since club activities were canceled, everyone t up in the city before boarding the train together.
There were quite a few passengers in this carriage. Behind Haru and his group, a cluster of students dressed in baseball uniforms chatted among themselves, likely on their way to a training camp.
Taking advantage of the relatively uncrowded train carriage, Haru handed out the portable chargers he had prepared in advance. His thoughtfulness was t with instant appreciation.
"Thanks, Prez! I was just saying how I forgot mine."
"Now I can take as many photos as I want! Gotta collect all the best shots for my card battles!"
Yukino also accepted one and gave him a rare complint. "Now you're finally acting like a proper club president."
"...Are you saying I don't usually?" Haru protested.
"Most of the ti, you're just a slightly dumb president."
"How did this turn into a personal attack all of a sudden?"
As they talked, Utaha, who had been quietly listening, suddenly interjected. "Yukinoshita, want to walk around together later?"
Yukino's tone remained indifferent. "Reason?"
"I figured you might not be too familiar with this kind of event. I can be your guide."
"You're well-versed in this?"
"More or less. I even looked up so extra details in advance."
As she spoke, Utaha held up her phone, showing a map of the convention along with various tips and guidelines.
Seeing her preparedness, Yukino didn't imdiately decline. "We'll see when we get there."
Just as she finished speaking, a baseball player from the group behind them hesitantly stepped forward and greeted her. "Uh… hey, excuse —"
"She's doing great, you're not," Haru interrupted, stepping forward to block the guy's approach.
Yukino smiled faintly and stayed silent, letting him handle it.
The baseball player blinked in surprise, then scratched his head awkwardly. "Ah… my bad, I didn't know she was your girlfriend."
With that, he turned to Utaha instead.
But before he could get a word out, Amamiya stepped forward again, cutting him off.
The baseball player: "???"
Yukino sighed, already guessing what was about to happen.
Utaha pressed her lips together, suppressing a laugh.
The player looked completely lost. "Bro, what are you…?"
Haru said nothing, simply maintaining a mysterious air.
The guy hesitated, then cautiously tried to move past him—this ti heading toward Hashimoto and the others.
Sure enough, Haru blocked him again.
Now he was completely baffled.
What the hell?
Are all of them your wings or sothing?!
At this point, soone from the photography club couldn't hold back anymore and let out a snicker.
Yukino sighed lightly. "I knew this would happen."
Utaha, on the other hand, was fully amused. "As expected of him—always willing to do things that others wouldn't dare to."
Yukino shot her a glance. "And that's sothing to praise?"
With a playful smile, Utaha replied, "Given your position, shouldn't you be fully supporting him right now?"
Yukino's gaze sharpened instantly. "Utaha-senpai, there are so things you don't need to teach ."
"Fair enough."
Utaha shrugged, letting it go without pushing further.
Seeing her sudden passiveness, Yukino thought for a mont.
She invited to walk with her earlier… was it because she wanted to discuss sothing privately?
anwhile, the confused baseball player wandered back to his group, where his teammates bombarded him with questions.
"I don't even know, man," he muttered, utterly lost. "That guy just popped out of nowhere. I think I got targeted for no reason."
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