The study session continued after that, even though Tanaka did drift off a few times.
"Japanese history is a breeze! You can easily score a hundred if you just memorize every single square inch of the pages in the test range."
"Look, I already told you, there’s no way I can cram that much into my head at once," Yuria countered.
"You’ll be fine! If a bottom-tier, four-eyed, flat-chested loner like me can manage it, then a gorgeous gyaru with killer thighs like you will be perfect, Ichinose-san!"
"Your self-esteem is in the gutter just like Ryouta’s... Wait, is that seriously how you see me?"
Against all odds, Tanaka and Yuria had actually hit it off. Somewhere along the line, Tanaka had even started speaking to her without a hint of hesitation.
"Well... it's almost seven. Should we call it a day?" I asked, checking the clock on my phone.
Just like when I’d studied with Airi, time seemed to vanish whenever we actually sat down and focused.
"Good point," Tanaka said. "Your family always eats around seven, right, Ryouta-kun?"
"Yeah, so we should probably—"
"Wait just a second," Yuria interjected, cutting me off. "Doesn't Tanaka know a suspicious amount about you, Ryouta?"
She narrowed her eyes at us.
"Knowing exactly when you eat, being asked to 'monitor' you by your parents... I know you guys have been friends since junior high, but this level of closeness is practically childhood-friend territory."
"Well, you know? Ryouta-kun and I hung out pretty often back in seventh and eighth grade. I guess you could say I've just cultivated a healthy relationship with his family."
"'Healthy relationship' my foot. You’re just shameless, Tanaka," I grumbled. "You went out of your way to butter up my sister—who’s a loner just like you—so you could score her old clothes. And behind my back, you were over here on Sundays learning how to make roast pork from my mom."
"Wait, Ryouta. That’s not just being 'shameless'... Tanaka, are you intentionally working the perimeter?"
"Aaaah—! What are you saying, Ichinose-san?! I just want to build a good relationship with his sister and his mom, that’s all!"
Tanaka’s face turned bright red as she shook her head so violently her glasses nearly flew off. What was with her all of a sudden? Her emotional state was as unstable as ever.
"M-More importantly, let's talk about summer vacation! A popular gyaru like Ichinose-san must have a schedule that’s booked solid, right?"
"Summer vacation plans? I haven't decided a single thing yet."
"Huh? Aren't you going somewhere with your boyfriends?"
"Boyfriends? Plural? No, for starters, I don't have a single boyfriend. I've never even dated anyone."
"...Is that so? I'd heard rumors that you had several boyfriends at other schools."
Several boyfriends? What kind of rumors were people spreading? I had to admit that I’d pictured Yuria as a total party girl before we became friends, but still...
Strange rumors always seemed to swirl around the Beautiful Girl Trio. After all, people had started a rumor that Airi and I were dating just because we’d gone to the School Cafeteria and Snoto together.
"Anyway, I'm planning to wait until after the tests to decide what I'm doing for the summer~"
Yuria shot a smirk in my direction.
What was with that annoying grin? Did she mean she was waiting to see her test results so she could figure out how much she could drag me around? Judging by her expression, that was definitely it. Sigh. Good grief, was my summer destined to be one long, inescapable string of errands?
"Anyway, since you brought it up, are you going somewhere, Tanaka? A family trip or something?"
"My parents are both busy with work, so we can't do a family trip... but actually, I was planning to go to Summer Comiket."
"Summer Comiket!?" Yuria and I blurted out in unison.
Yuria, still pretending not to be an otaku, quickly cleared her throat to regain her composure. "W-What’s a 'Summer Comiket'?"
"Oh, I guess you wouldn't know about that, Ichinose-san. It’s... well, the easiest way to put it is that it's a massive event for self-published books. There are corporate booths and cosplay areas too, so there's plenty to see."
She knows exactly what it is, I thought, watching Yuria’s face as she struggled to keep her cool.
Still, Comiket, huh? There was a reason I was surprised she was going. For a high school student in the countryside, the hurdles for attending Comiket were significant. Between the cost of a round trip to Tokyo, the price of the books, the nightmare of navigating city trains, and the financial necessity of a day trip... there were a lot of ways for things to go wrong.
I'd never gone because I could see myself failing at every single one of those challenges. Well, that and the fact that I just couldn't stand crowds.
"Oh! Ryouta-kun, why don't you come with me? It'll be a lot less intimidating if the two of us go together."
"M-Me too?"
"...Is that a no?" Tanaka asked, looking up at me with pleading eyes.
If the two of us go together, huh? I’d be a senior next year, which meant I probably wouldn’t have a chance to go then. Since this was my last real summer, I did feel a slight urge to experience it.
"...Alright. I think I can talk my way into an allowance advance around then, so I’ll give it some serious thought. I’ve actually wanted to go for a while."
"Really!? ...Yes!"
"Wait."
Yuria cut in, her expression darkening.
I knew it. Here it comes.
"I'm going to that Summer Comiket thing, too."
I figured as much. I’m sure she wants to hit the Breast-Kyun booth.
There’s no way you’re keeping your otaku side a secret now!!