MCFW 12

Chapter :12

A Bookmark is Placed

— One day.

When I entered the practice room as usual, I saw senior Naoya Kitagawa practicing alone.

“Hey, Kaede. Are you alone today?”

Naoya smiled when she noticed me.

“Ah, Naoya-san. Yes, it’s just me today.”
“I see. There’s still some time before the girls’ school festival, so don’t overwork yourself, okay?”
“Ah, right.”
“I wanted to give you a ticket for that day, but if I hand it to you myself, Kana might get the wrong idea. So I’d like you to receive it from her instead.”
“Got it. I’ll take it from Kana-nee that day.”
“I really wanted to give it to you myself… but, well, it might be misunderstood, you know.”

Apparently, the admission ticket to the girls’ school festival carries a special meaning.
I didn’t really understand it, but I’d heard something from the boys at my school:
If a boy and a girl go to a girls’ school festival together, they’re officially recognized as a couple and destined for happiness.

Even Naoya-san—who always said she wasn’t interested in romance—seemed to know the meaning behind it.

“I see. That sounds tough for you, Naoya-san.”
“No, I didn’t mean it that way… It’s more about the band stuff.”
“Ah, right. You’re practicing for the festival performance, right?”
“Well, you’re not wrong.”

Right, today was band practice.
I also came to practice my bass.

Come to think of it, this was the first time I’d seen Naoya-san in casual clothes.
Since it was a holiday, she wasn’t in her school uniform.
Her outfit—cute clothes with a short skirt—was a surprising change from her usual tomboyish style. The hat she wore suited her really well.

Then Naoya-san asked me—

“By the way, what do you think of my outfit today? Does it… suit me?”

She asked that shyly, her expression uncertain.
She must not be used to wearing clothes like that.
I immediately nodded.

“It looks great on you. Really.”
“Good. I thought something this cute wouldn’t fit someone like me.”

She gave a small, awkward laugh and looked down at her outfit.

“Did something happen?”

I tilted my head in curiosity.
Naoya looked at me and replied:

“Well, my little brother told me, ‘Sis, you always dress too boyishly. You don’t look girly at all.’ So when we went shopping the other day, I bought some cuter clothes.”
“Oh, so that’s why you were at the mall that day.”
“Yeah, that’s right.”

When I’d seen her at the mall back then, she’d been dressed simply, blending into the crowd. Maybe that’s why no one paid much attention—she had looked rather boyish.

“…Still, being told it suits me feels kind of embarrassing.”
“Really? But it honestly does suit you. You look really cute, Naoya-san.”

At my straightforward words, Naoya’s face turned red.
Maybe even her brother had never said something like that to her before.

“Ah… um, thank you, little brother.”
“Don’t mention it.”

Naoya stayed flushed while I smiled back at her.

After a while, Kana-nee came into the room.

“Hey, how’s the practice going?”

She greeted us with her usual bright smile.

“Kana-nee.”
“Kana. Yeah, everything’s going fine.”

Naoya smiled and answered.
Kana-nee looked at her outfit in surprise.

“Naoya-chan, what’s up with that?”
“Hm? What do you mean?”
“Well, you’re dressed differently from usual, so I was just curious.”
“Oh, this? My brother said I wasn’t girly enough, so I figured I’d try something new today. How does it look?”

Naoya showed off her cute outfit.
Kana-nee looked genuinely delighted for her.

“It’s adorable! It really suits you.”
“Kaede-kun said the same thing.”
“Oh? Even your ‘little brother’ said so?”
“Yeah… being told that by a boy is kind of embarrassing. I think I understand how you feel a little now, Kana.”

Naoya smiled warmly.
There was maybe a hint of envy behind her words.

“I never get told things like that, no matter how cute my clothes are…”

Kana-nee suddenly frowned and glared at me.
—Hey, wait, what did I do?

“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Oh, I wonder why?”

She gave me a teasing smile.
That smile was scarier than her glare.
“Uh…” I faltered, and Naoya gave a small laugh.

“Now, now. No need to get jealous, Kana. You and Kaede are close—sometimes you might not notice things about each other.”
“I know that, but still… He could at least say something once in a while.”
“But Kana-nee, whatever you wear already suits you. I didn’t think it was something I needed to say.”
“So that means if I wear something new, you’ll just ignore it?”
“N-no, that’s not what I meant…”
“Then what did you mean?”
“Well…”

I couldn’t find the words.
Kana-nee’s always stylish; everything she wears looks good.
But even if I complimented her, she’d probably accuse me of “just saying that,” like last time.

“Well, Kaede does look up to you as his older sister, Kana. That’s something special.”
“That’s because I want to be a proper big sister to him.”
“I see. My brother doesn’t see me that way—he just calls me ‘Naoya.’ I wish he’d call me ‘sis’ sometimes, like you.”
“So that’s why you dressed like that today?”
“No, that’s not it. I just didn’t have anything else to wear.”
“Sure… just happened, huh?”

Kana-nee gave her a doubtful look.
Maybe she thought Naoya was acting more romantic lately.

“I’m not lying! It’s not like I dressed this way just for Kaede.”
“You say that, but I don’t know…”
“You’re worrying too much, Kana-nee. I don’t see Naoya-san that way.”
“Oh really? What way do you mean?”
“I just mean… there’s nothing to worry about, that’s all.”
“Hmmm… so you’re at least aware of her then.”
“Th-that’s not what I meant…”

Naoya chuckled softly.

“So I’m not in your range of interest, huh?”

She crossed her legs with a teasing smile.
I quickly looked away to avoid embarrassing myself.

“It’s not that. I just try to be careful not to give the wrong impression.”
“For example?”
“Well… like how you dress. If you sit like that in such a short skirt, someone might see something.”
“Oh…”

Naoya looked down at her clothes in surprise, then smiled a little.

“You really do notice those things, huh?”

“W-wait, that’s not what I—”

Kana-nee sighed. “Come on, Naoya-chan, stop teasing him already.”
Naoya shrugged with a laugh. “You’re always so strict about this stuff, Kana.”

Her playful side had clearly taken over, maybe because she was wearing something new and cute.

Kana-nee gave her a look that said she’d seen right through her.

“Let me guess—you just wanted someone to notice your outfit, and you figured Kaede would give you an honest opinion?”
“You got me. I thought Kaede would tell me the truth. That’s why I wore something different today.”
“Geez! You shouldn’t get all dressed up just because there’s a boy around.”
“But Kaede did say it looked good on me.”
“Well, he’s honest, I’ll give him that—but teasing isn’t okay!”
“Then why don’t you try it, Kana? If you really like him, you should have the confidence to show it.”
“Th-that’s not…”

Kana-nee blushed and looked flustered.
Naoya smirked knowingly.

“That face says there is something going on.”

“N-no, there isn’t! Right, Kaede?”
“Uh… well…”

Honestly, if anyone heard about us sharing a bath that one time, they’d misunderstand completely. But she was the one who barged in, so that doesn’t count… right?

“I’m not really interested in romance,” Naoya said softly, “but I do wonder what it’s like to have a boyfriend.”

Then she walked over, gently linking her arm with mine, and looked up at me.

“So, Kaede… what do you think? Am I… cute?”
“Ah, um… well…”

Was she really going to make me say it again?
I glanced helplessly at Kana-nee.
She pouted at Naoya and said,

“Sure, Naoya-chan’s naturally cute. If she tried, she could get a boyfriend easily.”

I could only sigh at the two of them—each so different, yet both impossible to deal with.