“I wanted to invite you to go with me to Shinmachi Street.”
“Oh… I’m so sorry, Kurosaki. That’s very nice of you, but I already told Hanazoe that I would hang out with him today!” Ayu explained. “Maybe tomorrow; you’ll be back in Yokohama soon, right?”
“Yes, but,” Yuuto frowned, “Hiiragi, I came all this way just for you. I really want to spend some time with you before summer break ends. I’m afraid I’ll be busy soon so can’t come to another calligraphy club meeting before the summer ends. I won’t be able to hang out again so I’m truly heartbroken that you would simply turn me down. Can’t you indulge me just a little bit? You wouldn’t want all the time I spent coming here to go to waste, would you? Please, Hiiragi?”
“Well,” Ayu hesitated, “when you put it like that… I guess I could go to Shinmachi Street for a little bit. Not for more than an hour or so, though.”
“Then it’s settled.” Yuuto’s face broke into a wide smile as he grabbed Ayu’s hand. “I already know the way. I can’t wait, Hiiragi! I’ve been looking forward to this ever since we reunited at the Rango Cafe.”
“Woah, wait!” Ayu laughed. “Let me text Hanazoe really quickly. I have to let him know about the change in plans.”
“…Ah. Right. Of course.” Yuuto released Ayu’s hand.
Hiiragi Ayu:
Hi sorry quick change of plans
I’m gonna hang out with Kurosaki at Shinmachi Street for a bit!
We can still go over your music
I’ll just be an hour or so late, okay?
“All done?” Yuuto asked as Ayu pocketed her phone. “Then let’s go!”
“Woah!”
Yuuto grabbed Ayu’s hand and pulled her down the sidewalk. He was much taller than her—though not as tall as Juuzou—so it was difficult to keep up with his sudden sprint. Shinmachi Street and its pleasant hustle and bustle quickly came into view. There were just as many people as last time but Ayu didn’t at all feel the watercolor swirls encroaching her vision. She panted as Yuuto slowed to a halt and waited patiently for her to catch her breath. When she finally gained the strength to look at him, Yuuto’s indigo-violet eyes beamed back at hers.
They passed by the same route Ayu and Juuzou took her first time here. The quaint fashion store was just as Ayu remembered it: an assortment of clothes and other jewelry lined the walls inside but a table in front of the establishment displayed a number of various trinkets. She admired the wares outside remembering the conversation she had with Juuzou. She still hadn’t “seen” him back then… Recalling her shock at the photo he showed her filled her gut with guilt. Ayu’s finger brushed over a necklace.
“What are you looking at, Hiiragi?” Yuuto peered at the charm in her hands.
“Uh… Well…”
Ayu picked up the necklace and Yuuto frowned. It was a series of black chains, drooping in length from longest at the base to shortest near the neck. Several loops in the chains were accented by a spike hanging from a black ring. It was bold enough to be considered flashy but plain enough that it could be layered with other necklaces or jewelry.
“I didn’t know you enjoyed such… ostentatious styles, Hiiragi,” Yuuto noted.
“Oh, it’s not for me,” Ayu replied quickly. “I’m thinking of buying it for Hanazoe! He’s helped me a lot recently… I want to get this for him as a thank-you gift.” Yuuto narrowed his eyes.
“And what kind of… ‘help’ would this be?”
“W-When I first joined the calligraphy club, I was in a bit of a tough spot,” Ayu explained. “I overworked myself without realizing it. Hanazoe helped me realize what was wrong and I managed to stand up for myself! It’s all thanks to him that Rin and I are now friends. I really owe him a lot.”
“How… lovely. Next time, why don’t you just lean on me for help?” Yuuto suggested. “I can solve all of your problems for you.” Ayu blinked.
“I really appreciate the offer, Kurosaki. Thank you for looking out for me. But I don’t want to burden you! And in any case, I want the strength to solve my problems on my own. I mean, I don’t mind leaning on others for help if I need it. After all, you’re amazing, Kurosaki! You’re reliable, detail-oriented, responsible, and super thorough.”
“Why thank you, Hiiragi.”
“I’m sure I’ll need your help sometime in the future,” Ayu continued. “But I need the confidence to stand up for myself. That’s what Hanazoe helped me realize. And I want to be able to help you too, Kurosaki!”
“Well… If you say so. But still, I implore you to come to me whenever you need to,” Yuuto insisted. He glanced at the black necklace in Ayu’s hands. “Actually, I have a question for you, Hiiragi.”
“Sure! What is it, Kurosaki?”
Yuuto leaned forward so that his gaze was level with Ayu’s. She gulped. His arm shot forward and slammed the table. His body pressed against her back; he was trapped between Yuuto and the table. His pale blond hair drifted into his narrowed, amethyst eyes; he might as well have been the personification of Adonis at this moment. Yuuto’s stare was heavy; their surroundings seemed to drown out as he sucked Ayu into a world occupied by just the two of them. Ayu couldn’t tell what he was thinking. Her heart pounded against her chest. It was the only thing she could truly feel at this moment.
“Who is more important to you: me or Hanazoe Juuzou?” Yuuto demanded. Ayu blinked.
“You’re both important to me!” she responded plainly.
Ayu valued both Yuuto and Juuzou; but they were important to her in different ways. That didn’t make her love them any less or devalue them in any way. Yuuto was her precious friend from Tokyo; someone Ayu befriended during a rough time in her life when she thought she would be entirely alone. He had a weird sense of humor but he was dependable and Ayu always knew Yuuto had her back. She really liked that about him. He was her irreplaceable friend and it was thanks to him that she looked back on her time in Tokyo fondly. Ayu loved Yuuto as a friend, the same way she loved Rin and Rei as friends.
But Juuzou… Ayu had known Juuzou for so long. Granted, there was a gap in their friendship. But they’d become friends again after so many years all the same. Ayu had seen Juuzou change and change again. She’d been so happy to see him in the faculty office after all those years and cried when she realized how much she hurt him. They’d had a fair share of ups and downs together but they conquered them all. She helped him and he helped her in return. Juuzou still wanted her by his side just as Ayu wanted him by hers. He was someone she might consider to be her best friend, but the love she felt for him wasn’t the same kind of platonic love she felt towards Yuuto.
The kind of love Ayu felt towards Juuzou was new for her. It was born from the desire to stay by his side. To help him. To watch him change. To see him, just as he’d come to see her. Ayu loved Juuzou romantically; she wanted to be his partner. Not just his partner in catching the cosplayers but his partner in life. She wanted to experience more future ups and downs alongside him. Juuzou was the only person Ayu felt this way towards. But even if this special place in her heart was reserved just for him, it didn’t undermine the importance of Ayu’s friends in her life. Juuzou would be right beside her but she wanted to experience life with all her friends together as a group. Juuzou was a part of that as much as he was exclusive from it.
“…Very well.” Yuuto smiled and Ayu felt her shoulders relax. “I’m happy you value me so highly, Hiiragi.”
The ring of a phone cut through the heavy atmosphere. Ayu fumbled with the folds in her skirt as she removed her phone from her pocket.
Caller: Hanazoe Juuzou
“Hi, Hanazoe!” Ayu chirped.
“Hey, Hiiragi.” Juuzou’s voice sounded tight, as if he were bottling something up inside of him. “I just wanted a bit of clarification about your text messages. You said you were gonna be late—”
Ayu gasped as Yuuto deftly plucked her cellphone from her hands. She stretched her arm out towards him but he blocked her with ease. He then placed a finger to his lips and winked playfully. Ayu frowned and continued to reach for her phone. He dodged her easily, repelling her lunges and pitiful attempts as if he were a figure skater gliding across a frozen lake.
“Kurosaki! Please give that back!”
“It’s alright, Hiiragi. I’ll handle this.” Yuuto turned away from Ayu, who paused to catch her breath. “Hanazoe, right? I wouldn’t worry too much about your little rendezvous with Hiiragi. I won’t keep her long.”
“Wait, that voice— Oh, you bastard!”
Ayu flinched. Her phone wasn’t on speaker mode but Juuzou’s shouting was so loud she could hear it plain as day. Yuuto continued smiling pleasantly, seemingly unfazed by the damage Juuzou must have done to his eardrums.
“I’ll take good care of Hiiragi,” Yuuto told Juuzou.
“Shut your goddamn mouth, you piece of shit! I’m not interested in talking to you! Give the fucking phone back to Hiiragi!”
Ayu glanced nervously up and down Shinmachi Street. She worried that the nearby passersby might somehow overhear the conversation. Yuuto shook his head and replied, “I’ll return her whenever. Just sit tight and be very patient, okay?”
“Like hell I will! Where the fuck are you right now, Shinmachi Street!? I swear when I get over there, you’d better watch your ass `cause I’m gonna—”
Yuuto swiftly hung up and handed Ayu her phone back. She stared at him incredulously. He continued smiling, as if the sun itself had blessed him.
“Kurosaki—”
“Don’t worry about Hanazoe, Hiiragi.” Yuuto gently squeezed Ayu’s shoulder. “It wasn’t anything to get into a fuss about. There’s still plenty of sunlight left; it’s summer, after all.”
“That’s not what I was going to say. Please don’t ever do that again,” Ayu stated. “What if it was an emergency? I can take my calls myself.” Yuuto blinked.
“Right, of course. My apologies. I only wanted to joke around a bit.”
“That’s okay! I know you’re very playful, Kurosaki. That’s why it’s so fun to hang out with you! But you need to reel it in sometimes. Anyway,” Ayu frowned, “I still promised Hanazoe that—”
“You’ll still get your time with Hanazoe,” Yuuto reassured. “For now,” He placed his fingers beneath Ayu’s chin and tilted her head up so their gazes were level with each other, “just focus all of your attention on me.”
“I—”
“Hiiragi. Please? For me? I came all this way just for you, y’know.” Ayu bit her lip.
“Well… okay. But just this once! Next time, please tell me in advance!”
“But of course, Hiiragi.” Yuuto dropped Ayu’s chin. His hand traveled down her shoulder and snaked around her waist. He pressed her gently against his side. “Anything for you.”