Saturday morning arrived.
Suppressing a rising yawn, I trudged toward the station, our designated meeting spot.
Even though I lived in a place just three minutes from the station, I’d somehow already spent five minutes getting this far. My heart felt heavy.
I deliberately let myself get caught at a red light I could have easily made if I’d hurried, standing there blankly as I waited... until I felt a gentle tap on my back.
"Good morning, Tatsumi-kun!"
"Good morning, A... Haruka."
Besides my family, there was only one person who called me by my first name. Of course, there was also only one person I called by their first name in return.
I turned around to find Haruka in her casual clothes, looking up at me with a slightly dissatisfied pout.
"You hesitated just now, didn't you?"
"Sorry. I’m just not used to calling other people by their names yet..."
"Even though we practiced so much yesterday?"
"Let’s not talk about that."
I hurriedly silenced her.
We had both been completely out of our minds during that practice session. Now that a night had passed and I’d finally regained my composure, I had no desire to revisit it.
Haruka seemed to share the sentiment; she averted her eyes, her cheeks flushing a light pink.
The signal turned green at that exact moment, and we began walking side by side.
"...Haruka, do you go to karaoke often?"
"Hmm, I’ve been a few times with Miki and the girls since starting high school. But this is my first time going with such a big group."
"I see. I’m actually pretty nervous."
"You said the only time you’ve gone was with Yui-chan, right? In settings like this, the goal is usually just gathering and having fun rather than the singing itself. You don't need to be so on guard."
"Is that how it works?"
I didn’t ask her how she knew about my trip with Yui. I really needed to have a word with my sister about her loose lips...
As we chatted, we reached the station. Since it was a weekend, the foot traffic was heavy, and the square where we were supposed to meet was bustling with people.
Just as I started looking around for our classmates—
"Heeeey! Haruka! Yanagida-kun!"
A voice full of energy called out to us. Looking over, I saw Mukai-san waving her arms wildly despite her small frame. Other classmates like Hashimoto and Oka were gathered around her.
Haruka chuckled and waved back as we approached.
Between Mukai-san’s shouting and Haruka’s striking looks, the people nearby began to stare. I stood tall and stepped in front of Haruka to shield her.
After everything that had happened recently, I had become quite accustomed to being in the spotlight.
"...Thanks, Tatsumi-kun," she whispered.
"It’s nothing," I replied bluntly, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Haruka giggled at my reaction and then, very softly, let her hand brush against my wrist.
Thinking she was trying to tease me again, I felt a spark of playfulness and grabbed her hand in return.
Haruka stiffened instantly. Feeling a sense of triumph, I looked back at her with a smug expression—only to feel my heart skip a beat when I saw her face was bright red.
"S-Sorry. It was an impulse... I’ll let go."
"I-It’s okay! It really is, so..."
Just as I tried to pull my hand away, thinking I’d overstepped, she squeezed back.
Her palm was so small and delicate that it was almost completely enveloped by mine, with only her fingertips visible.
The warmth from her skin radiated through me, spreading to my entire body.
Caught in a hazy fever, my thoughts blurred. It felt as if the boundaries between us were melting together, until—
"You guys... Seriously, quit flirting the moment you find an opening. Actually, stop creating openings to flirt. Give us a break."
"...Sorry."
Hashimoto smacked me on the head, snapping me back to reality. He was looking at us with an exasperated expression, a look I felt like I’d been seeing from him a lot lately. I was truly sorry.
We joined the circle of classmates, enduring various looks from the group.
Hashimoto, Mukai-san, and the guys I’d played basketball with like Akasaka and Minami made sense, but seeing Takamiya-san there was a surprise.
Noticing my gaze, Takamiya-san let out a shallow sigh.
"I wasn't particularly keen on coming, but Miki insisted."
"Actually, Karin is an incredible singer! I’ve wanted everyone to hear her for ages!" Mukai-san boasted, puffing out her chest while standing next to her.
Takamiya-san remained composed, but she didn't look entirely displeased. Apparently, she didn't mind performing in front of others as much as I’d thought.
Soon, the whole group had arrived—a massive party of over twenty people.
Hashimoto surveyed the crowd and gave the signal.
"Alright, everyone’s here! Like I said on LINE, I’ve booked a place nearby with a Party Room, so let's move out. It’ll be a pain if we move as one giant mob, so split into a few smaller groups and head over!"
"Couldn't we have just met at the shop?" Akasaka asked.
"If we did that, half of you would get lost!" Hashimoto barked back.
As I watched my classmates start to shuffle away, I felt a tug on my sleeve.
I turned to see Haruka spinning around in a circle.
"I realized I hadn't asked you yet today. How do I look?"
"Hmm." I crossed my arms and took in her outfit.
She was wearing a shirt-dress—essentially a long, three-quarter sleeve blouse worn as a dress. She’d paired it with jeans and sneakers, making for a look that was stylish yet practical.
The fluttering sky-blue fabric combined with her presence felt like a refreshing breeze that blew away the oppressive humidity of the rainy season.
"It looks refreshing. It suits you. Just being near you makes me feel cooler."
"Thanks! If you want to cool down that much, Tatsumi-kun, I can be your personal air conditioner for a while."
"I'll take you up on that."
I laughed at her playful tone and took the hand she offered.
§
When we arrived at the karaoke shop, Hashimoto took charge and split us into two groups.
The group I ended up in consisted of familiar faces: Haruka, Takamiya-san, Mukai-san, Hashimoto, and Akasaka.
Hashimoto claimed he’d based the groups on friendships while balancing the gender ratio, but when I caught his eye, he shot me a surprisingly smooth wink.
"I’m the one who dragged you out here, so it’s my job to make sure you actually enjoy yourself, right?"
"Hashimoto..."
"Plus, to be honest, if any of the other guys were in this group, they’d probably try to hit on Akise-san or pick a fight with you."
Hashimoto let out a heavy sigh. I was deeply grateful for how much he’d looked out for me. I’d have to treat the guy to a meal someday.
After checking in and grabbing drinks at the drink bar, we headed to our Party Room.
I followed Hashimoto into the dim room and blinked in surprise. It was a massive space designed for twenty people.
A large projector screen occupied the wall opposite the door, with a huge table in the center surrounded by a U-shaped sofa.
As we filed in, making comments about the size of the room, Hashimoto clapped his hands for attention.
"Okay, let's set the seating! First, the girls sit starting from the side closest to the door. Akise-san sits at the very end. Then Yanagida sits next to her. I'll sit next to Yanagida, and the rest is free seating!"
"Hey..."
"No complaints! Come on, sit, sit!"
"Wait, don't push, I'll spill my drink...!"
Hashimoto shoved me along until I was right in front of Haruka, who had already taken her seat and was smiling as she beckoned me over.
Under the weight of several curious, jealous, and exasperated stares, I resigned myself to my fate and sat down. I tried to leave about twenty centimeters of space between us, but she immediately slid over to close the gap. I decided it wasn't worth saying anything.
Once everyone was settled, Hashimoto raised his cup, and we all followed suit.
"First off, great job on our first Term Exams of high school! Thanks to everyone for coming out today. And a huge thanks to Akise-san for handling the coordination on the girls' side. You were a lifesaver."
I looked at Haruka, surprised she’d done all that, and she responded with a smug peace sign. She really was capable.
"Whether your scores were good or bad, forget all that and let's have a blast! Cheers!"
"Cheers!"
The room erupted as everyone raised their cups. I joined in, feeling a bit bashful. Surprisingly, the atmosphere was quite infectious.
"Tatsumi-kun! Cheers!"
"Oh, yeah. Cheers."
"Me too, me too! You too, Karin! Cheers!"
"I don't... oh, fine. Cheers."
"Hey, don't leave me out! Cheers!"
"Thanks, you guys. Cheers... Ow, hey, that clink was too hard!"
The sound of plastic cups clinking together filled the air, and we were soon enveloped in a boisterous but comfortable clamor.
As the chatter began, the first person to operate the touch panel and grab the mic was—shockingly—Takamiya-san.
The song she picked was the theme for a drama that had been popular recently.
After a few seconds of a quiet, atmospheric intro, Takamiya-san began to sing. Those of us who didn't know her voice were collectively stunned.
"...Takamiya-san is incredible."
"Wow, I’m actually getting chills..."
Whispers of admiration rippled through the room. I felt the exact same way.
Her pitch was flawless, but it was more than that—she used fine techniques like vibrato and emotional shifts that gave her voice an overwhelming intensity.
We listened in rapt silence until the artist’s name appeared on the screen at the end, at which point the room exploded into applause and cheers.
"Hehehe! I told you, didn't I? Karin is amazing!"
"Why are you acting like the one who did it? ...Anyway, thank you. Someone else go."
Takamiya-san gave a casual wave, seemingly unfazed—though her ears were slightly red in the dim light—and set the mic down. No one moved to pick it up.
It was understandable. She was so good that she’d raised the bar to an impossible height. No one wanted to be the brave soul who had to follow that performance.
"I guess it’s up to me...!"
"Hashimoto, you..."
"Don't do it! It's suicide!"
"I don't plan on going down without a fight. Akasaka, cue the track!"
"Understood, Hashimoto. Go show them what you've got."
Hashimoto stood up with far more drama than necessary and grabbed the mic.
He snapped his fingers with a serious face, and Akasaka nodded like a loyal accomplice before hitting the touch panel.
The moment the title appeared on the screen, Hashimoto screamed.
"Not this one!"
"Wait, it’s the wrong song?"
"I’ve already started it, so there’s no turning back! Let’s goooo!"
Giving in to desperation, Hashimoto began shouting into the mic along with the high-octane melody.
It was a song by a famous male band that even I recognized. It was upbeat, had simple lyrics, and most importantly, was built for shouting along.
Technique didn't matter; Hashimoto’s sheer energy and volume were exactly what the room needed to shake off the intimidation of the previous song.
Caught up in the momentum, everyone started calling out the lines of the chorus. Even I found myself joining in. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Takamiya-san shouting along with a look of genuine amusement.
After ending with a long, dramatic shout, Hashimoto pointed the mic at Akasaka.
"You're next."
"Hashimoto... I accept the challenge."
As Akasaka wailed at the clearly ridiculous joke song Hashimoto had picked for him, Hashimoto sat back down and gulped down some cola.
"So? It got the room moving, didn't it?"
"Yeah... you're something else."
"Right? It’s not about skill, it’s about the hype. ...And don't think I forgot our deal. You have to sing at least one song."
"I know."
Hashimoto slapped my shoulder. I brushed his hand off and started to worry.
He made it sound easy, but singing was a struggle for me. This was only my second time ever doing karaoke. I didn't listen to much music, so my repertoire was tiny, and I certainly didn't know any "hype" songs.
As I sat there agonizing over what to pick, I felt a finger poking my shoulder.
I looked over to see Haruka showing me a music app on her phone.
"Do you know this song?"
"Yeah... it’s famous. I’ve heard it."
"Great! Then, do you want to sing it as a duet with me?"
The song she’d picked was a pop theme from a romance drama. It featured a call-and-response style between male and female vocals.
A duet with Haruka... honestly, it was a lifesaver.
The song wasn't very difficult, and the female part carried most of the weight, meaning the male part was relatively brief.
I wanted to accept immediately, but I only had a vague memory of the melody. I wasn't confident I could pull it off right now.
"I’d like to, but I don't remember the lyrics very well..."
"You can listen to it now. I want to double-check it myself anyway. Here, use an earphone. Is a wired one okay?"
"Oh... yeah, thanks."
Before I could even think, I’d accepted the earphone she held out.
I didn't want to be rude and turn down her kind offer, so I reached out to put it in—and then it hit me.
Haruka was sitting on my right.
The earphone she’d handed me was for the left ear.
For both of us to use these wired earphones at the same time, we would have to be practically touching... wait—
"Sorry, I’m going to get closer."
"O-Oh...?"
Before I could calculate the physics of the cable length, Haruka closed the distance entirely.
She pressed her body firmly against mine, wrapping her arms around my right arm and resting her head on my shoulder.
The overwhelming softness against my arm and the faint, sweet scent of a girl at point-blank range caused my brain to stall.
"...What's wrong, Tatsumi-kun?"
"What do you mean 'what's wrong'? Uh... you're touching me."
"I... I’m making it touch you."
If she was going to get so red that she started stuttering, she shouldn't have done it in the first place. My attempt at a complaint was immediately silenced by the feeling of her pressing even closer against my arm.
"Now, listen!"
She hit play, giving me no choice but to be quiet and put the earphone in.
The upbeat music started playing in my ear... but I couldn't focus on a single note.
My right arm was completely paralyzed by the sensation of her warm, incredibly soft contact. I could feel a heartbeat thumping through our touching skin, but eventually, I couldn't even tell if it was mine or hers.
"............"
"............"
We both sat there in silence. The song ended without me memorizing a single word of the lyrics.
Then, I noticed the room.
The entire group was staring at us in dead silence. No one was holding the mic.
Their expressions weren't just curious or jealous—they were looking at us with pure disbelief, as if they couldn't comprehend what they were seeing.
In the middle of this frozen atmosphere, with only the voice of a celebrity on the screen talking about music trends, the two people sitting on either side of us finally moved.
Hashimoto and Takamiya-san, both wearing dead-serious expressions, thrust microphones at us.
"You're next," Hashimoto said.
"It's your turn," Takamiya-san added.
Unable to withstand the sheer pressure they were radiating, we took the microphones and looked at each other with pale faces.
""...P-Please, just let us listen to it one more time!""
We were eventually forgiven, on the condition that we sing an extra song.