Part-1 Ch-01 Ep-04

"Fufu~ Maki~"

"What’s with that huge grin?"

It was after school on the very first day after entrance ceremony homeroom. I immediately decided to ask Maki about Kagami-kun.

"Kagami-kun’s in our class! Isn’t that such an amazing coincidence?!"

No, it wasn’t a coincidence—it was inevitable.

But the person in question just tilted her head with a big question mark floating above it, looking confused.

"Wait, don’t tell me… you don’t remember, Maki?"

"Kagami…?"

"Yo, Ichinose."

Right on cue, Kagami-kun showed up. That’s when Maki finally seemed to remember and muttered, "Oh… it’s Shin-kun," as if a light bulb went off.

"That’s right, that’s right! Your friend from preschool!"

"The kid who loved acorns, right? Long time no see."

"Y-yeah… we were just little kids back then. So it really is you, Ichinose. Uh…"

He glanced at me, so I figured I’d properly introduce myself again. I can’t afford to leave a bad impression as Maki’s support character, after all.

"I’m Nagase Mari! I’m Maki’s childhood friend. Nice to meet you!"

"Nagase, huh. Nice to meet you too."

Kagami-kun extended his right hand. A Western-style greeting? Kinda embarrassing. I hesitantly took his hand. It was harder and more calloused than I expected. It really felt like… a guy’s hand. My heart was racing.

…Huh? For some reason, Maki was glaring intensely at our clasped hands. Is she… jealous? That’s a good sign!

"Anyway, isn’t it crazy that we’re reuniting in high school like this? It might even be fate. You and Kagami-kun, Maki."

"I-I guess…?" Kagami-kun blushed, while Maki responded with a flat "Huh?" and maximum grumpiness.

…Did I do something wrong?

Still, today is the first day since the game started, which means it’s my first real job. Let’s see… according to the game, the next event should be…

"Oh yeah, Kagami-kun! Maki and I are heading home now, but if you’re going the same way, wanna walk together?"

"Sure, sounds good. I wanted to talk anyway."

"W-wait a second, Mari, don’t just decide that on your own…!"

I soothed the flustered Maki and somehow managed to get the three of us walking home together. As expected, Kagami-kun’s house was in the same direction as ours—and super close to Maki’s place.

Normally, on the first day of school, Maki and Kagami-kun would have walked home just the two of them.

On that original walk home, they were supposed to have a conversation like, "What should we call each other now?" which triggers a choice selection that raises affection points.

But judging from Maki’s current mood, that reunion nostalgia event where they naturally walk home together probably wouldn’t trigger at all, so I had to step in and make it happen.

That’s what support characters are for, right?

So this time, I’ll pretend the three of us are walking together, then make up some excuse partway and ditch them. That way Maki and Kagami-kun can walk home alone and deepen their bond—For some reason, just thinking about it sent a tiny, needle-like stab of pain through my chest.

…Must be my imagination.

"Mari, let’s go. Why are you dawdling?"

Maki called out from the classroom door, sounding a little irritated. Was there a bit of an edge to her voice just now?

"Come on, Nagase."

Kagami-kun smiled gently and waved me over from beside Maki. For some reason, that made Maki twitch and furrow her brow.

"Ah, sorry, sorry! Coming~!"

Even though the atmosphere felt unexpectedly awkward, I jogged over to join the two of them standing side by side. I was excited. I really was excited.

And yet, for some reason, my feet felt just a little heavy.