Nagi Kotohira and Houka Izumi

*Yawn*...

Morning, Nagi.

Morning...

You look sleepy~

Mornings make you sleepy. That's just how it is.

Hey, Izumi-san, listen to this. At our last match, the coach was...

You still can't settle on a practice plan? That sounds difficult...

Could you read that short story I told you about? I really want to hear what you think, Houka-san.

Oh my, you finally finished it♪ I'd be happy to, if you want my thoughts.

Oh, Houka-chan! Look at my new nails! Aren't they cute?

Oh, they're lovely. They're perfect for the season, too. I think they're wonderful♪

...

(Houka's weirdly well-connected. Or maybe she just gets along with all kinds of people.)

(Well, she is good at making nice, at least. Makes sense.)

Sleepy...

Oh, right, Houka-chan! Actually, I think I'm gonna start a band!

Oh, how lovely. I hope it turns into something you really enjoy♪

So, I wanted to ask you something...

(Oh, no... I know where this is going...)

Houka-chan, would you play drums in our band!?

Not many people want to play drums, and having someone experienced would be a huge help! What do you say?

I'm grateful you thought of me, but... I don't plan on playing in any other bands right now.

Come on, please?

Um... This is a difficult one...

!

...♪

If I leave things vague...

My bandmates would scold me. I'm sorry♪

(This girl...)

Izumi-san and Kotohira-san have been in the same band since middle school. They're really close, so don't pressure her.

Oh, I see. Sorry! I'll look for someone else, then!

Not at all, please don't worry. I'll be rooting for your band from the sidelines♪

You sure know how to use me when it suits you...

How cold. We're the only two first-years in millsage, after all.

Say whatever you want.

Hehe... Oh, right. I nearly forgot.

...?

Good morning, Nagi-san. Let's do our best today as usual♪

*Sigh*...

(I hope we're in different classes next year.)

All right, we'd better hurry to the Garage.

Yeah. Mahoro just messaged me. Everyone else is already there.

Who would have thought homeroom would run so late?

Natsume-senpai's probably furious.

Well, we do have a perfectly good reason this time... Oh?

C-Come on, let's go ask them... This might be our only chance...!

But they look like they're in a hurry. Wouldn't we be bothering them...?

Nagi-san, Nagi-san♪

What is it...? Come on, let's hurry.

Oh, you know perfectly well. Those middle school girls are watching us.

*Sigh*...

There you go. Off you go♪

Hey, don't push me...

Oh...!

Ah...

Um... Are you heading to practice now, Senpai?

Yeah. We are.

Um, these are... We made cookies in home ec class! We thought everyone in your band might like some...!

Thanks... I think everyone will be happy.

Oh...

?

You've got a bandage on your finger... Did you hurt yourself?

Oh! I burned it a little when I took them out of the oven... But I'm totally fine!

I see... That's good, then.

Um... Just be more careful next time, okay? The cookies make me happy, but I'd worry if you got hurt.

Y-Yes! I'll be careful! E-Excuse us!

Oh my gosh, oh my gosh... I'm so glad we worked up the nerve to do it!

...

That went well, Kotohira-senpai♪

You're enjoying this, aren't you?

Why, not at all. I am simply delighted that one of my bandmates is so adored.

You heard them, didn't you? They said these were for everyone.

Yes, yes. I know that♪

Still... Could you not have been a touch more gracious with them?

Like a certain someone?

Your little fan club, was it? It's rather lovely to be held in such high regard, isn't it?

I mean... I am happy. I just honestly don't know what I'm supposed to do.

A smile and a little wave would do nicely.

Don't assume everyone finds that kind of thing easy...

Hehe. No one would ever imagine that the cool, admired Kotohira-senpai could be quite so endearingly awkward♪

Enough already... Let's go.

Oh, honestly. Please don't leave me behind♪

(No practice today... What should I do?)

Well then, I shall be taking my leave now♪

See you... Though I've been wondering since this morning. Isn't that an awful lot to carry?

Why, to think you have been keeping such a close eye on me. How embarrassing.

Cut it out. I was just wondering.

How unkind.

I'm meeting my sister after this.

Because we hadn't seen each other in so long, my parents sent me off with one souvenir after another... Before I knew it, I was carrying all this.

Huh. You have a sister? I thought you were an only child.

Oh, but I do my best as a devoted little sister, you know?

If it's been a while, she doesn't live at home?

That's right. She is already working, after all.

Is there a pretty big age gap between you two?

Let me see... She's six years older than I am. She finished culinary school and is now training at a restaurant in Tokyo.

A chef, huh? That's pretty cool.

Hehe. She is a fine adult now, of course... But she was quite the free spirit when she was younger.

When she was a student, she was forever clashing with our parents.

Oh. A troublemaker.

Indeed. Unlike unremarkable little old me.

Unremarkable...?

Even so, we never had a poor relationship as sisters. If anything, she was very kind to me.

She often invited friends over, and when I was little, I would join them and let them entertain me.

Hmm.

(Maybe that's where Houka gets that strange knack for people...)

Today, my sister says she will take me to a lovely restaurant as part of her own studies♪

How very close.

And what about you, Nagi-san? Do you have any siblings?

Uh... One older sister.

How lovely. We have that in common as well. I'm delighted♪

Do we have anything else in common?

My sister lives alone too, but unlike yours... We do not really keep in touch.

I see. Every pair of sisters has their own way.

The age gap isn't as big as yours, and she only moved out fairly recently.

Oh? Then perhaps you still miss her a little?

Should you ever feel the need, you may call me Big Sis anytime you wish♪

Sure, sure. If you have plans, you'd better get going, Big Sis Houka.

Hehe, of course. I do have an appointment to keep. Until later, then.

Okaaay.

I wonder if you're doing okay, Sis...