Having finished our visit to my mother's grave, we headed straight home without making any stops along the way.
I’d considered pausing for a breather somewhere, but it was probably better to get back before the kinpira gobo we’d brought as an offering could spoil in the heat. I’d intended to introduce her to the local sights on the walk back, but...
"Why are you walking so far away?" I asked.
Haruka was trailing exactly half a step behind me, maintaining a strict distance. When I looked back, she shot me a sullen, sideways glare.
"...I’m all sweaty right now, so I don’t really want to stand right next to you."
"I don't mind."
"I do!"
I figured it was fine since she’d used deodorant sheets, but she clearly felt otherwise. Besides, if it’s Haruka’s sweat... actually, let’s not go there. That’s bordering on perversion. If I even joked about that, she’d probably make me walk the rest of the way alone.
"Well, I get how you feel, but... it’s a bit lonely walking side-by-side without even holding hands."
"Ngh... That’s playing dirty, Tatsumi-kun."
It was her own fault for being stubborn. Still, despite her protests, she was a sweetheart; she timidly reached out to find my hand. When I looked up to thank her as our palms met, she shoved my cheek away, forcibly turning my head.
"What was that for?"
"I’ll hold your hand, but keep your eyes forward. And absolutely no sniffing."
"...I guess I can live with that."
"Why are you acting so high and mighty?" she huffed, her expression sulky as she gave my cheek a light swat.
There was no force behind it; it was a slap as soft as a caress. Naturally, it didn't hurt at all—if anything, it felt rather nice.
As we were enjoying our harmless bickering, a voice suddenly called out to us from behind.
"...Wait, Yanagida-senpai?"
"Hm?"
I turned around to see a sturdy young man with a sports-cut hairstyle. The moment I heard his voice, the name sprang to mind, and seeing him confirmed it. Feeling a wave of nostalgia, I called out to him.
"It’s been a while, Inami."
"It really has, Senpai! I heard you were back in town. I’m so glad I ran into you."
The cheerful young man before me was Takeru Inami. He was my junior from the tennis club in middle school and one of the few people I’d stayed close with. I’d looked after him when he first joined, and he’d been devoted to me ever since. To me, he was a dear junior—and someone I owed a great deal.
"I'm glad to see you're doing well. How's the club?"
"Thanks to everything you taught me, Senpai, I actually placed fourth in the prefecture for singles during the June Tournament. Thank you so much!"
"Oh, congratulations. That was all you, man. You worked hard for that."
"Thank you! But it’s the truth—I only made it that far because you were so patient with me when I was a total beginner, teaching me how to hold a racket and practicing with me every day."
"...Alright, I'll take the compliment then," I said with a wry smile. Inami beamed, looking satisfied.
Once the initial greetings and small talk settled, I decided to resolve the question my junior was clearly dying to ask. I raised our joined hands, introducing the girl beside me.
"Inami, this is my classmate from high school—and my girlfriend, Haruka Akise. Haruka, this is Takeru Inami. He was my junior in middle school and he’s in the same year as Yui."
"Nice to meet you, I'm Haruka Akise. It's a pleasure."
"I-I knew it, she really is your girlfriend...! Ah, n-nice to meet you! I’m Inami! Senpai has been a huge help to me, he’s...!"
As Haruka gave him a brilliant smile, Inami’s face went crimson. I suppose it’s only natural for a middle schooler in the depths of puberty to get flustered when a beautiful older girl smiles at him... though it didn't exactly make me feel great.
As I let out a sigh of exasperation at my own pettiness, Inami seemed to realize something and looked up with a start.
"If you're in town, Senpai, that means you're home for Obon. And since you brought your girlfriend with you, does that mean, maybe..."
"...Well, introducing her to my parents was one of the reasons for the trip."
"You’ve only been at university for a few months, and you’re already introducing your girlfriend to your parents?! Senpai, you’re incredible!"
I wanted to tell him he was making it sound weirder than it was, but looking at the situation objectively, I couldn't really argue. Beside me, Haruka just smiled bashfully, evidently having no desire to correct him.
Come to think of it, my perspective had been a bit warped lately, but it hadn't even been two months since Haruka and I met. I don't think the depth of a relationship is strictly proportional to time, but things certainly were moving fast.
...Well, whatever. It’s not like I care what others think, and there's no doubt that we're happy right now.
"So, what about you? You've only got about six months left until graduation."
"Wait, uh... are we talking about my grades?"
"I'm talking about romance. Have you finally worked up the nerve to confess to Yui yet?"
"...Wh-wha—whaaaaa?!"
Sorry, kid. Your senpai is a petty man.
At my blunt question, Inami’s face turned a shade of red that put his previous blush to shame. Seeing his incredibly transparent reaction, a mischievous glint appeared in Haruka’s eyes.
"Heh~, so Inami-kun likes Yui-chan?"
"Eh, ah, no! That’s not—I mean, it's not like that! For me, Yanagida-san is just a classmate, and it's not like...!"
"You're panicking way too much for that excuse to work. Look, whether you confess or not, you’ve only got half a year left. You should make sure you don't have any regrets."
"...!!"
We might have only been dating for two months, but I was still his senior in the romance department. I figured I was allowed to act like a big shot for a moment.
My words, half-teasing but half-sincere, left Inami stunned into silence. Haruka gave him a warm, encouraging smile.
"Hehe. Yui-chan is such a lovely girl. Good luck."
"...W-well, setting aside the 'good luck' part for now... I'll think about it seriously."
"Please do. Sorry for butting in. Ultimately, it’s your life... but I’m rooting for you."
"Thank you very much!"
I waved off Inami as he bowed deeply. I told him to reach out if he ever needed advice, and then we went our separate ways. Once we were out of earshot, Haruka looked up at me with a knowing grin.
"You really trust him, don't you? Enough to feel comfortable with him dating Yui-chan."
"Well... he's a benefactor to both me and my sister."
"A benefactor?"
As Haruka tilted her head, I gave a small smile.
"Do you remember me telling you about the time Yui was being harassed by those losers? Back then, Inami was the one who pulled me aside to tell me that Yui was acting strange in class."
"...! I see. So that’s why."
"Yeah. I trust his heart and his guts."
Takeru Inami was a sincere, kind, and earnest guy. He was so earnest, in fact, that he’d been eaten up by guilt when I got suspended and had to miss the tournament, even coming over to apologize to me and Yui in person.
"I wonder how Yui-chan feels about him."
"She doesn't hate him, at least. They've talked a lot more since that incident, and even after I moved out for school, she’d mention his name every now and then."
Apparently, they attended the same cram school and occasionally walked home together afterward. Yui would even help him with his studies... the story sounded strangely familiar.
As I talked, the sparkle in Haruka's eyes grew brighter. She was clearly hooked on the idea of her "little sister's" first romance.
"Wait, wait... doesn't that mean Yui-chan might actually like him back?!"
"I couldn't say. Why don't you try asking her yourself? She might be more willing to talk to you about it than me."
"You're right! I'll do that!"
I was just an observer in this, even if it involved my family, but I found myself hoping things would work out for my junior and my sister.
That night.
The whole family, Haruka included, gathered around the dinner table. Amidst the peaceful conversation, Haruka found her opening.
"That reminds me, on the way back from the cemetery today, we ran into one of Tatsumi-kun’s juniors."
"Onii-san’s? ...Wait, was it Inami-kun?" Yui asked.
The moment Yui reacted, Haruka’s eyes flashed with predatory focus. I could practically see a "Target Locked!" graphic appearing over her head. She leaned in toward Yui, her voice remaining perfectly sweet.
"That's the one. He’s in your class, right? Are you two close?"
"I mean, as far as the boys go, he’s probably the one I talk to most. We go to the same cram school, after all."
"The same cram school! So, do you ever walk home together?"
"Sometimes... when it gets late, he usually walks me partway home because he says it's dangerous."
"Heh~, how sweet of him!"
What a blatant performance. Still, good job, Inami. That’s top-tier consideration; I’ll have to thank him later.
Perhaps sensing Haruka's intent, my stepmother joined in with a beaming smile.
"Inami-kun is that boy from back then, right? If he's looking after Yui like that, then as her mother, I really should find a way to thank him."
"It's fine, I already thank him. I help him with his studying since he asked, and we've even gone to the movies, just the two of us..."
""Oh, my!""
"What's with that reaction from both of you...?"
That kid was bolder than I thought! He’d turned bright red just having his feelings mentioned, yet he was out here putting in the work. At this rate, he didn't need any encouragement from me. He was taking action, and Yui clearly didn't mind the attention. You don't go to the movies alone with a guy you have zero interest in.
All that was left was for him to find his courage... and I already knew he had plenty of that.
Haruka seemed to have reached the same conclusion, switching from "investigation mode" to teasing her with a heartwarming smile. My stepmother joined in with gusto, and Yui, her cheeks flushed, tried to brush them off with feigned annoyance.
It was a noisy, lively scene. My father and I, realizing we had absolutely no standing in this conversation, focused entirely on erasing our presence.
"Hey, Tatsumi."
"What, Dad?"
My father sipped his miso soup, his tone unusually grave.
"As her father, should I be flying into a rage right now? Or should I interrogate her further? What do you think?"
"...Maybe just stick to your soup, Dad."
"Good point."
"Then why'd you even ask?"
Man, this miso soup is good.