I was on my way to Aichi’s house.
I couldn't stop grinning. My body was screaming with exhaustion from club activities, but I didn't care one bit. After all, that fatigue was about to be blown away! Just you wait, Ai-chan!
I broke into a skip just before I reached my destination. Full of spirit, I pressed the intercom. From inside the house, I heard the pitter-patter of someone running, accompanied by the squeals of a little girl. There was no mistake; that voice belonged to—
"Y-yes!"
"A-i-ch-i! I’m h-e-r-e!"
"Eh?! Wh-wait! You don't have to shout it into the speaker!"
Oops, I was so happy I’d raised my voice too much.
I heard the pitter-patter of running again. As I looked past the stylish gate, the front door rattled open in a somewhat clumsy manner. Was it Aichi? Or was it Ai-chan? Honestly, either one was fine!
"It’s the tall big sister!"
"It’s Ai-chan!"
It was Ai-chan. She was adorable with her twin tails. She was so small, so cute, and I wanted to squeeze her... No, I was going to squeeze her!
"Ai-channnnnn!"
"Kyah!"
So cute... I wanted one for my own house! I wanted to just take her home with me right now! Was that okay? Was it? I was confident I could make her happy! And I could only see a future where I’d be happy, too!
"Of course it’s not okay!"
"Ah, Aichi! It’s been a while!"
"I’m not giving you Airi!"
"Ahaha, I’m joking, just joking."
Ai-chan was suddenly snatched away. Aichi pulled the little girl close as if to say she'd never let her go. As expected of Aichi and her love for Ai-chan... her eyes were dead serious. I never thought the day would come when she’d glare at me, but even that was cute!
Today, Aichi was wearing a sleeveless white blouse and cool-looking black pants. It was stylish, yet... it looked like an outfit meant for movement. Did you have to be that fired up to play with Ai-chan? At the very least, I didn't think Sajocchi or I were quite that conscious of it.
"Ahaha! Aichi, you doing good? You look well!"
"Same to you, Kei. Isn't club practice tough?"
"It’s exhausting. That’s why I came here to recharge by soaking up some of Ai-chan’s energy."
"Th-that might actually be a big help..."
"Well, come on in," she said, inviting me inside. Just stepping into the entryway, I felt the cool air from the air conditioner. When I asked if it was okay for it to be this cold, I learned the temperature was set specifically for Ai-chan’s sake. Apparently, her body temperature rose quickly because she ran around so energetically. They would adjust it the moment she got tired and sleepy. Whoa... wasn't Ai-chan a bit too loved? Though I suppose she was an "Ai"-chan, after all.
Matching my gaze with her round eyes, I stroked Ai-chan’s head while Aichi held her.
"I’m surprised you remembered me."
"Ehehe."
"W-well, it's just... I didn't want her to forget about you, Kei. I often showed her the photos we took together."
"! A-Aichiii!"
"Kyah?! Wh-wait... don't hug me all of a sudden!"
"Ah?! Airi too, Airi too!"
What a wonderful thing to say. I could put my life on the line for Aichi's sake. I’d rather just become her younger sister like Airi-chan. Oh! But being Aichi’s older sister might be good, too! Aichi getting lonely and acting spoiled with me... Nihihihi.
After being shaken off by Aichi, who looked genuinely bothered by the heat, I pulled myself together and took a deep breath of the air in her house. Uhehehehe. I had to give a proper greeting, too.
When I went into the living room, I saw an iced cocoa on the table in front of the cream-colored sofa. Had they been playing here? An image of Aichi acting like a mother, doting on Ai-chan while they watched TV, popped into my head. Oh? Come to think of it...
"Aichi, where’s your mom?"
"Ah, she has her part-time job today."
"Whoa, really?"
Wait, hold on—Aichi’s mom was at work? That meant if I weren't here, it would be just Aichi and Ai-chan in this house. Aichi, were you really trying to invite Sajocchi over as a "punishment" in this situation? I mean, that's not even a punishment anymore, is it? Being invited to the house of the girl you like—isn't that something incredible for a guy? Like, "body might spontaneously combust" incredible.
"..."
"...What is it?"
No, don't do that cute little head tilt! This was no time for being adorable! What a terrifying girl! I mean, she already had a record for letting a boy into her house! When I first heard about that, I thought my ears had gone wrong... And this time, there might not have even been a parent home? Sajocchi would die in more ways than one.
Aichi and Sajocchi. Those two were interesting. Plus, Aichi was cute. My curiosity always came before any feeling of envy. It had been four months now, and I never got tired of watching them.
They kept a decent distance, neither pulling away nor getting closer. I didn't really get it, but I came to like them both—including Sajocchi—right away. This was the first time I'd seen someone’s romance from such a close distance. If I kept watching, I felt like I’d forget all about my own youth.
But what happened the other day was no good... Aichi had gotten so used to being cold to Sajocchi that she’d snap at him instantly, and Sajocchi had clearly started avoiding her. I wasn't the only one who thought it was bad, either! As for Sajocchi, he’d even started flirting with other girls!
I’d suspected something was up, but I was relieved to find it wasn't what it seemed. I’d gotten a bit emotional and grilled him about it, but Sajocchi just shrank back and said things like "I'm gross." But it seemed like he still loved Aichi... I don't know, had his intense one-sided love just settled down? Well, I didn't think it had actually settled... but I was a little disappointed. I liked the Sajocchi who was full of confidence. Not in a romantic way, but as a person.
Still, thanks to that, I was able to get really close with Aichi. When she got shaken up because Sajocchi stopped hanging around her, she relied on me. Because of that, I learned that Aichi isn't just a pretty face; she’s actually surprisingly dorky and cute. Although, when it comes to Sajocchi, she’s frustratingly slow.
Yeah, seriously. "Aichi and Sajocchi." What was up with those two? I couldn't help but find them hilarious. I was looking forward to what came next way too much.
Aichi seemed pretty lonely, even while she was huffing and puffing about Sajocchi suddenly distancing himself. She used to find him so annoying, but then she suddenly turned into a real "amanojaku"... and that was also cute. She'd get all mopey... I was pretty sure my current affection for Aichi rivaled Sajocchi’s. Yeah, definitely. I wasn't losing this one.
I think Aichi had organized her feelings to some extent, too. She understood for herself that she was lonely because Sajocchi was gone. Lately, they’d been acting somewhat friendly, which made me smile, too.
Wait—that's not right!
We’re high schoolers, right?! Platonic friendships between guys and girls—well, that was how it was for me and Sajocchi! But shouldn't things be more bittersweet?! Shouldn't there be more... you know?! Sajocchi was wearing himself ragged because he understood that! Aichi! It’s you! I’m talking about you!
"...?"
No, don't do the head tilt! Gosh, you're so cute!
"Wait, come to think of it, where’s Sajocchi? Did he reply?"
"Ah..."
"Sajocchi?"
"Sajocchi is... huh? You don't know who that is?"
"No, it's just that your nickname for him is unique..."
"Is it...?"
"Sajocchi"—I thought it had a good ring to it. It was easy to say. Even though she immediately took a liking to being called "Aichi," nobody would use my nickname for him. "Aichi" is good, though... Hmph.
"Airi, it’s 'Sajoo.' Remember? 'Sajoo.'"
"Sajoo...? I don't know."
"E-Eh...?"
Aichi looked troubled when Airi said she didn't know him. No, no, wait a second.
"Sajocchi is called 'Sajoo' by Ai-chan?"
"That's how it was... but it seems she doesn't remember."
"Oh boy, she forgot, huh."
"Mgh...!"
"!?"
Did I just hear that? Aichi puffed out her cheeks and went "Mgh!" She looked so frustrated—what was with that? It was too cute! Was she really that frustrated that Airi forgot about Sajocchi? Oh man!
"Airi! The person you bumped into a lot! The person who played house and sumo with you!"
"Hey, tell me more about that."
"You be quiet for a second!"
"Ah, okay."
What was he, a dad on his day off? I wondered what Aichi was making Sajocchi do... Maybe she was making him do other "dad" things. No, that’s already something beyond being a couple. Do you really end up like that just because you've known each other since middle school?
"...? Iinchi?"
"She's not Iiboshi-san!"
"I think I might know that story."
I felt like Iyorin was angry at Sajocchi about something related to Ai-chan. Something about him being used as a scapegoat... Ah, so that was it? Then maybe Airi's memories of Sajocchi were replaced by Iyorin.
"Nyuu..."
"The person with the weird hair!"
"That’s a bit much, Aichi..."
Whoa, she just said something horrible so casually. Poor Sajocchi. I actually felt a bit of sympathy for him. Even if it was Ai-chan, judging someone by whether their hair was weird or not—
"Sajoo...? Sajoo!"
"Ai-chan?"
No way, for real? What did Sajocchi do in front of Ai-chan? To be treated like a person with weird hair by a child, it must have been something extreme. I couldn't imagine it at all.
"W-Wataru's hair color was just strange!"
"Ah, oh! So that's what it was! You startled me!"
True, a little while ago, Sajocchi’s hair might have been in a "pudding" state. Back when he’d left it alone even though his dark roots had grown in quite a bit! Ah, okay, I finally got it! I thought for a second I’d seen a dark side of Ai-chan...
"Is Sajoo coming?!"
"He’s coming, yeah. I’ll make him come."
"Y-You’ll make him come?"
"Nihihi."
That said, I’d already sent the message to Sajocchi. Was he still at his part-time job? It was already past noon, though...
"Aichi, is it okay if Sajocchi comes over like this?"
"Eh?! Wh-what is?! Is something weird?!"
"No, if it’s fine with you, it’s fine."
"E-Er...!"
Aichi started looking around restlessly. Only now was she starting to look for anything she wouldn't want him to see. Nihihi, she was so cute... I was starting to get jealous of Sajocchi. For now, I’d focus on the cute little angel in front of me.
"Ai-channn."
"Kyah!"
Wah, her cheeks were so soft...
Squish, squish.