Miku Mahashi and Yomogi Yakura

*Huff*... *Pant*... I have to change into it... Fast~~~!

I'm home~

Haaah...

Huh...? Yomogi-san, you're already changed into your loungewear? We got to the door at almost the same time.

Ugh... I am so sorry for changing first thing without even saying I was home or putting my things away...!

No, I get that it was rough. The practice studio was all the way past the station.

I was just wondering why changing clothes came before oxygen.

Y-You are right...! I was in such a panic that it felt like my body was demanding loungewear on its own...

Well, I guess some people are like that. They get home and just have to change right away.

Yes! Exactly!!

Whoa, personal space!

The outside world is always so frightening... All those strangers, all those eyes... I cannot take it anymore...

The moment I leave my safe zone, I do not even know how to breathe or walk anymore. It is pathetic...

I cannot even act normal. Every second, I am embarrassing myself, and knowing that tears my heart apart... My mind is in a million pieces!!

T-That sounds rough...

Before that happens, I put this on! The precious "Onishigu" merch: the Amazing T-shirt!!

Aiming...? Oh, that is how you read the kanji on the shirt.

Yes! It is the precious motto carried by Godo-kun!

Godo-kun can face any hardship because he is determined to always be Amazing!

When I wear this, it feels like I am wearing Godo-kun's resolve too. Like it wraps up all the weak, wobbly parts of me...!

I see. So that is why you changed first thing.

Exactly! If I stay in my outside clothes, it still feels like I have to keep fighting.

Ah... I get it now.

(Yomogi-san always seems like she wants to hide somewhere, so I had wondered why her regular clothes stand out so much.)

(But maybe those are Yomogi-san's "armor." Clothes for fighting all the things outside that scare her.)

(And when she takes off that "armor," she can be herself...)

That is a nice T-shirt.

What!? You think so too, Miku-san!?

Um, if you would like, I could give you this T-shirt... I cannot! It is my only one!!

Giving away my one and only emotional safety charm is too much... No, but you said you liked it...!

I did not say I liked it. And I would not wear it anyway.

Hmm... Oh! It's not much of a substitute, but would you like to read the manga!?

I will lend you the full "Onishigu" set for as many days as you need, Miku-san!!

It's fine, really...! I only said the T-shirt was nice.

Please, do not hold back!! I want you to lose yourself in the world of "Onishigu"!

(I should not have said anything... I need to be more careful from now on.)

I'm hungry...

(I already ate all the cup noodles my family sent me, and I do not feel like filling up on snacks...)

(When this happens...)

"I just read Onishigu through Volume 10. Godo is way too Amazing."

"A first-time Onishigu reaction in this day and age... Good. Come this way... It is not scary..."

"Onishigu should be required reading for all humanity."

Haaaah!! Every word is right! Every word gets a like! Five hundred million likes!!

Even if my stomach is empty, if my heart is full, then I can...

So you were hungry after all.

Gasp...!!

M-Miku-san, how did you know I would be here...!?

You are usually here around this time. Sitting here, happily looking at your phone.

Happily... Hehe, hehehe... That is right~!

Could you be interested too, Miku-san...!? My source of strength!

"Onishigu," right?

Finding posts with people's reactions is part of it too!

Manga reactions?

"Onishigu" is quite a vintage delinquent manga, so it is hard to find anyone to talk about it with.

People who are just starting it are even more precious...! When I find an account like that, I have to follow it right away!

When they post their thoughts, I like and reply. Making sure they have a place where they can talk freely about "Onishigu" has become one of the reasons I live~!

I... I see...

I found another post earlier from someone reading Onishigu manga for the first time, and oh, my heart has been skipping along so happily ever since...!

Oh, Yomogi-san. Before I forget, this is for you.

Is this... an energy bar?

Tonight's dinner was mostly things you do not like, was it not? I noticed you barely ate anything.

You need to put something in your stomach. It is not good for you otherwise.

...!!

That is all. Sorry for interrupting you.

Miku-san!! That is exactly what Sayuri-chan said to Godo-kun in Volume 8 of "Saga of the Steel-spirit Bancho: Onishigure"!!

(Oh no. Here we go.)

Godo-kun kept pushing away the rice balls, saying he did not feel like eating... Then Sayuri-chan gently took his hand and said those very words!

Now I feel like I am going to bite into this energy bar with the exact same face Godo-kun made when he ate that rice ball~!

Do whatever you want... That expression does not mean anything to me.

What a waste!! I will go get Volume 8 right now. Would you like to read it!?

Ah, but that scene only hits because of everything that came before it, so I think it would be much better if you started from Volume 1!

Hmm...

(If I say "maybe another time," I will have to read it eventually. But if I say "I will not," I might hurt her feelings...)

What about Raika or Cherie? Delinquent manga is not really my thing.

No problem!! I will create the perfect environment for you to enjoy it with your whole heart, Miku-san!

That is what I live for!!

Ngh...

I will borrow it someday...

Phew...

(I could not quite pull the song together. I wanted to at least lock in the first chorus, but...)

(It is late enough already. Maybe I will just have some water and go to bed.)

Haaah... That really hits the spot...!

Oh, Yomogi-san. Ramen?

Gyaaaah!! D-Do not look at me! I am sorry... Mmph...

Hey, keep it down...! What if everyone wakes up...!?

*Gulp*... S-Sorry...

You are mad, are you not...? Eating ramen by myself in the middle of the night...

No one is mad at you.

R-Really...!?

Wait, are you here for a late-night snack too, Miku-san...!?

I just came to get some water.

Also, leaving the butter out on the table is probably not a good idea, Yomogi-san. Put it back in the fridge soon, okay?

You are right...! Then one more little bit before I put it away... Here goes!

(Instant ramen with a huge extra helping of butter at this hour... It cannot be good for her, but...)

Miku-san...? Is something wrong...?

Oh, nothing. I was just thinking I have never put butter in ramen before.

Really? Miso and butter are inseparable besties!

And when you add the spice of midnight... Oh, it is the absolute best...!!

Huh. Then enjoy it.

Um... Would you like a bite, if you do not mind...!?

Sorry... but I try not to eat late-night snacks.

Oh...

Was that just now... your stomach, Miku-san...?

It did not growl. You imagined it.

N-No, it wasn't my imagination...! Um, would you maybe like to try some after all...!?

I said I am not eating.

W-What about just a taste? This is a rare kind you cannot buy in Tokyo!

If you eat it because I offered, then you have done nothing wrong, Miku-san. You would be the victim here, if anything...!

Pfft... Hehe. With you putting it that way, I cannot exactly say no.

Then may I have just one bite?

Y-Yes... Here you go.

Thanks.

H-How is it...?

Mm... Hehe. It is good. I can see why you would want to keep eating it.

R-Right!? I am so happy I could share it with you, Miku-san...

Yomogi-san, shh...! You will wake everyone up.

Oh...! Right...!

Still... Thank you, Yomogi-san. It was good.

I'm so glad...!

(She smiled... Just as beautiful as Sayuri-chan's~~~~!!)