The next day.

...It was a strange day, where Mion was desperate to regain her composure.

Every time our eyes met, she would say that she had something to do, or that she had to use the washroom, and run off.

Unable to just watch, Rena was taking care of her the entire time.

"...Mion-san... She's acting totally strange today."

"I know the whole story... but it's hard to explain..."

"...There are times when girls are emotionally unstable.

It's best to just leave her alone."

...Hm?

Turning around, I saw Rena calling me from the hallway.

...I wondered what it was.

"Keiichi-kun, over here, over here."

"What is it, calling me over like this?

Is it a secret?"

"Ummm...

...That is...

...It looks like it was a disaster.

...Ahahahahaha."

"Uh... Yea~h."

"Mii-chan seemed pretty broken, but I somehow got her working again."

"I'm surprised you managed it...

How did you exactly...?"

"Same way I do with the television.

Just come at it from a 45 degree angle and HIYAAAA!"

Saying that, she made a chopping motion.

...You know I can't tell if you're joking or not, right?

"She'll be fine by tomorrow.

Also, there's something I want you to do, Keiichi-kun."

"...I didn't mean to do anything wrong, but I still feel guilty.

...I'm listening."

"Thanks.

...You see, Mii-chan is just going to pretend the last few days never happened."

Never happened, huh...

...I see... well, that's one way to run from it...

"So, you see...

Keiichi-kun, could you pretend too?

Then Mii-chan can go back to normal."

"J-Just doing something as simple as that... is it really going to be okay...?"

"Please, until Mii-chan gets her feelings in order, just go with it."

"...Okay...

...

I got it."

Even though I shouldn't have been at fault... for some reason I felt guilty.

The one at fault here was the one who knew about the entire situation and pretended to be Mion for an entire day: Shion...!!!

Ugh... but... she never once said that she was Mion...

...Ugh...

What am I supposed to be angry at!?

Seeing me stomping the ground impatiently, Rena giggled.

"But Keiichi-kun, you knew as well.

That Mii-chan has some cute things about her."

Rena talked in a calm voice as her hair rustled in the wind.

"......Yeah.

I know that she'll never let it be boring."

"...Good."

Following this curt reply, Rena looked up at the sky and stretched.

"As long as you realize that, Keiichi-kun, these past few days will soon be nothing more than a story to laugh about."

Copying Rena, I also began to stretch as I looked at the sky.

The clear sky towered into the distance.

"There's no club activities or anything today.

I'm sorry, Keiichi-kun, but just for today, can you go home by yourself?

It'll all be back to normal by tomorrow, so just for today.

...Okay?"

If all it took for everything to go back to normal was to leave Mion alone for today, then it was an easy decision to make.

"Got it.

...I can't say it directly to Mion, so I'll say it to you.

...I still feel kind of guilty about it. So I want to apologize..."

"...Ah, no!

The root of the problem was Keiichi-kun saying something insensitive, right?

So if you learned anything from this, you need to look a bit into gaining a sense of delicacy."

"Right, right. I'll try."

That day, was the shortest day of my life.

Rena was talking to Mion while accompanying her around the entire time.

It looked like a really fun conversation, so I reflexively thought about joining in, but I had made a promise not to.

It seemed that Mion was also trying her best to ignore me.

...So likewise, I did my best to ignore her.

For the first time in a while, I ate lunch alone.

Mion and Rena ate theirs by themselves.

As I let out a sigh in my ashen mood, Rika-chan came over and patted me on the head.

"...Both Keiichi and Mii learned a whole lot."

I'd never say it like that.

...It made it sound like we were having romantic problems. I didn't like that one bit.

Hopefully the teacher wouldn't notice and call us to the staff room after school or something...

"...I'm sure that Keiichi will grow up to be a wonderful adult.

...*pat pat*"

"...Hmmm.

...Rika-chan is the studious type, so maybe you'll grow up to be an amazingly wonderful adult?"

"...Of course.

When I grow up I'll be super amazing."

"My, when I grow up I'll be an amazing lady, you know?"

"No matter how old you get, you'll still be a brat. You can put money on it."

"Wha-Wha-Wha-What did you saaaaaaaaaAAaaaaay!?!?"

As Satoko snapped her fingers a washbasin fell from above, hitting me squarely in the head.

"Owwwwwww....

What do you think you're doing SatokooooooooOooo!!!!"

*bang* *smash*

*pinch* *squeeze*

It was a day I could thoroughly appreciate the value of having friends.