Mahoro Hamasaki and Houka Izumi

Thank you for your hard work today. I shall be on my way, then.

Oh, Houka-chan. Could I talk to you for a second...?

? Is something the matter?

Um, I wanted to ask you something about our costumes...

Oh my. In that case, it would be best to send all the alterations in together. Shall we call everyone over and check?

Ah... No, it is not quite like that... It is more like, um...

Ah... You need the sizing adjusted♪

Ahh! That is it, that is it! But it is kind of embarrassing that you figured it out so quickly...!

But... Yes. That is it...

Then I shall take care of it discreetly♪

Aww, thank you... Actually, it is a little tighter around my waist than it used to be...

I see... I see.

Though, from looking at you, I would not say you seem very different...

D-Do not look at me~!

I thought it might be getting bad... So lately, I have been trying to eat a little less...

I see. But if you are being mindful so that you return to your usual shape, would you not be fine without alterations?

W-Well... I thought it might be good to have a safety net, just in case...

Hehe. You are surprisingly timid about this, are you not?

Ugh... When we were designing the costumes together, I should have pushed for something a little looser...

It was our first time having costumes at all. I suppose it is only natural that there would be some unexpected complications.

Everyone was so excited, Kanata-san especially.

Ahaha... That is true. I was so happy too.

It made me feel like we were real professionals.

Natsume-san seemed dissatisfied right until the end. She wanted everything in black, and said the ruffles on the sleeves got in the way.

Natsume-chan is really particular about things, you know~

On the other hand, Nagi-chan did not say a thing. She just said, "As long as it does not look strange, I will leave it to you."

Hehe. We could have made hers a little cuter.

Nagi-chan would definitely get mad about that...

Wait... If you think about it, were Kanata and I the only ones getting all excited?

Not at all. I was every bit as excited as the two of you.

You were? Is there anything about these costumes that you especially like, Houka-chan?

Let me see...

Above all, I like that they are white.

Mm-hm, mm-hm. They are cute, right?

And the floral accessories are lovely as well.

The corsages, right? Kanata said she wanted those, did she not?

Yes. Though, if we were going that far, perhaps traditional Japanese attire would have suited us as well.

(Funeral flowers and burial clothes. They would be perfect for my wish...)

T-Traditional Japanese attire...? Well, I mean, I am sure it would look good on you, Houka-chan...

Hehe... In any case, it means I like these costumes too♪

Oh, Houka-chan?

Oh my, Mahoro-san. What a coincidence. Are you out for a walk?

Yeah. The weather is so nice, I thought I would get out for a change of pace. What about you, Houka-chan?

I heard there is a well-regarded burger place nearby. I thought I might pay it a visit.

Oh, I did not know that. It is not a chain, right?

No. I hear they are very particular about every detail.

They use only fresh vegetables from contracted farms. And their patties are 100% beef, with no fillers at all.

Their buns are baked to order, so I hear the wait is more than twenty minutes.

Y-You really know your stuff...!

Hehe. I merely read what was written on their website.

I see... Do places like that usually need reservations too?

That is the thing... Apparently, they do not take reservations at all.

What? So you have to line up no matter what!?

Yes. But that only means it is good enough to make people feel it is worth the wait... It certainly raises one's expectations.

O-Oh...

Does that not appeal to you very much, Mahoro-san?

Hmm... I get that it sounds impressive, but I do not think it has really clicked for me...

I have only had burgers from chains, but I still think they are plenty delicious.

Oh, what a shame. It is good to know the real thing, you know?

The real thing...?

Yes. Affordable chain restaurants have their merits as well, but if that is all one knows, one's senses may grow dull.

Experiencing something of the highest quality lets one realize anew that one is ordinary, and that there are greater heights in the world.

Um... So you are not just going because you want to eat something delicious...?

Hehe. Of course I am interested in delicious food.

But it is not only that. What matters to me is the shape of the world that food reveals, and understanding where I stand within it♪

That is... a pretty complicated way of putting it...

That said, this is only my own way of thinking. I think chain restaurants are lovely too.

The shape of the world... Where I stand...

Well then, if you will excuse me.

Ah, wait! Houka-chan!

Um... Could I come with you to that place?

Oh my... I thought it had not quite caught your interest?

Ahaha, that is true. But after hearing you talk about it, Houka-chan, I have started getting curious.

I am getting hungry too... And I kind of want to find out what you mean by "the real thing," Houka-chan.

My...

Sorry for asking so suddenly. Is that not okay?

No, not at all~ It is not often that Mahoro-san and I get to have lunch together.

Oh! What a relief~

Hehe. I have a feeling today is going to be quite delightful♪

...!

Oh, Mahoro-san. Good work today.

Y-Yeah...! Good work today...!

Is something the matter...? You keep looking around rather anxiously.

Oh, yeah... It is because of my horoscope...!

Your horoscope?

Yeah... I always watch the horoscope segment on the morning news. Cancer was ranked last today...

It said, "You may be distracted today! Watch out for unexpected injuries!"

So that is why you are walking so carefully.

Yeah... I cannot stop thinking about it.

I brought my lucky item too, just in case. It said stationery, so... Look, my pencil case.

My. It is packed full of pens.

I brought every pen we had at home... And there are still two more pencil cases there...

I see. That does sound rather burdensome.

Ugh... Are you the type to believe in horoscopes, Houka-chan?

Let me see... There are 365 days in a year, so with twelve zodiac signs, each one will be ranked last about one twelfth of the time...

I feel there would be no end to it if one worried about that every time.

Haha, I guess so.

Besides, if you checked a different horoscope, I am sure it would give you a different result.

Yeah... I know I should not take it too seriously, but...

I start worrying that something really might happen...

Hehe. You have such a gentle heart, Mahoro-san.

Do I...?

Then why not think of it this way?

Rather than treating last place as something bad, simply think of it as the ordinary state of things.

That way, your horoscope is always ordinary or better. See? There is nothing to worry about.

I-I see...

You can be pretty levelheaded sometimes, Houka-chan. "Dry" might make it sound mean, though.

Oh my, do you think so?

I do not feel that I am consciously trying to be any particular way...

If I had to say, perhaps it is that I try not to expect too much.

Expect too much...?

Yes. I believe life has a way of hurting us when we expect too much from it.

It is only natural for nothing to happen. If something good does, then that is a lucky surprise... That is about the right balance, I think.

That is so grown-up...! I get excited about things all the time, and I want to keep feeling that way~

Hehe... It is not easy to change the way one thinks.

I think that is perfectly fine for you, Mahoro-san♪ Horoscopes can be fun little spices in everyday life, after all.

Yeah, thank you! I will try not to worry so much about the result!

Of course. I shall be wishing, in my own small way, for a good turn of fortune to come your way, Mahoro-san♪