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When Minori invited her out to a restaurant downtown, Airi had expected to enjoy a nice, relaxing lunch with her underclassman. And it had, in fact, been going delightfully. The food was good, the atmosphere was peaceful, and Minori herself was proving to be a very easygoing dining companion.
That is, right up until she set down a pair of walkie-talkies onto the table.
Airi stopped with her chopsticks halfway to her mouth. “Um, what are those for?”
“Long distance communication!” Minori said. “They’re called-“
“No, no. I know what a walkie-talkie is. But why are they with you?”
“Huh?” Minori tilted her head to the side. “To aid in our stealth mission, of course!”
…Stealth mission? Airi thought. “Minori, what in the world are you talking about?”
“Oh, I think I forgot to explain that part before we got here.” Minori took a bite of her seared salmon, chewing nonchalantly as if Airi wasn’t staring at her with a bewildered expression. “So basically, I think Kohane has a boyfriend.”
“Really?” Kohane was that underclassman Minori was always telling her about. Best friends since middle school, or something to that effect. “Good for her.”
“No!” Minori almost leapt out of her seat, sending their plates wobbling. “It’s my job to make sure she doesn’t end up with someone lousy – but I don’t know anything about him!”
“Huh?” Airi arched an eyebrow. “So how do you even know they’re dating in the first place?”
“Because! Kohane calls him her ‘partner.’ And recently she’s always telling me that they meet up after school to ‘practice’ together!” A worried look washed over her face.
Wow, Airi thought. Yeah, that’s pretty damning evidence. And also… quite bold, especially coming from a mousey girl like her. “Okay, I think I understand. Let me guess – Kohane told you that she and her partner are coming here for lunch, and now you’re waiting to stake him out?”
“That’s right! You’re so smart, Airi!”
“Thanks. And I guess I’m here to support you. Okay, sure, but still – why the walkie-talkies?”
“Well if we get separated, we can communicate. Like this.” She grabbed one of the devices and then slid the other towards Airi, where it crackled with static. “Testing. One, two, three. Over.”
“But Minori why would we ever-“
“Please use the walkie-talkie. Over.”
Airi gritted her teeth, reluctantly raising the device to her mouth. “As I was saying – why would we ever be separated? Also, isn’t it way more convenient to just use our phones? Not to mention way less suspicious.”
Minori stared at her for a long moment. “You need to end your sentences with ‘over’ when-“
“Alright, we’re done here.” Airi made as if to get up, but then Minori’s hand latched onto her wrist.
“Wait, I think I see her!”
“Huh?” She sat back down and followed Minori’s gaze, to where a girl with flaxen pigtails was entering through the door. And trailing just behind her was…
“Oh,” Minori said. “It’s just another girl.”
Indeed, with Kohane was an energetic looking girl who had long, black hair decorated with star accessories. And that’s the Kamiyama uniform, Airi thought. Interesting.
“I guess I was worried for nothing, huh?” Minori said, a relieved smile on her face. “Sorry for bothering you with all this, Airi.”
Airi rose an eyebrow. “What are you talking about? You haven’t figured out whether they’re dating yet.”
Minori tilted her head. “Dating? But they’re both girls.”
“And? Girls can date each other.”
“Huh?” She looked at Airi as if she had just grown another head. “Really?”
“What is this, the Shouwa era?” Airi watched as Kohane and her “friend” were seated at another table. To most onlookers they might have seemed platonic, but for a careful observer like herself she was able to notice the little details that suggested otherwise. The quick glances in each other’s direction, the lingering touches when they brushed against each other… “Yeah, I think they could be a couple.”
“So Kohane likes girls?” Minori looked like stars were spinning in her head.
“Wait,” Airi said. “So does this mean you aren’t gay? Even though you fawn over Haruka so much?”
“That’s different! She’s my idol!”
“You always talk about how pretty she is.”
“She is pretty! But…” Minori put a finger to her lips, a serious expression on her face. “Does that mean that I…”
Poor girl. Here, I’ll help you out. “How would you feel if Haruka, say, kissed you?”
“I – um, I th-think that… I mean, it would p-probably…”
“Alright, never mind. You look like you’re about to cry.” Airi turned her head towards the table with Kohane and her partner. The two were chatting away happily while eating. At one point the other girl passed her drink over to Kohane, who sipped it with a pleased expression on her face.
“No way!” Minori placed her hands against her face. “That was an indirect–“
“Don’t say it,” Airi said, glaring. “That’s a stupid concept.”
“But…”
“There is nothing sensual about letting someone drink from the same cup as you. Watch.” She grabbed Minori’s glass of water and took a quick sip. “See?”
But Minori was mortified. “Airi… you like girls too?”
“Are you even listening to me? Does your brain just hear my voice and then decide that the time for it to work is over?”
“The time for it to work is what?” Minori said, speaking into the walkie-talkie. “Over.”
Airi took a deep breath. “Okay, have fun Minori. Thanks for giving me a lot to talk about with Ena next time I see her.”
“Oh, you know Akito’s sister?”
Both Airi and Minori whipped their heads around to find that Kohane and her partner were now standing in front of their table.
“Kohane! …You caught us?” Minori had an astonished tone to her voice, but Airi couldn’t begin to imagine why. They were literally sitting out in the open with no kind of disguise whatsoever.
Kohane’s partner tilted her head. “Caught? Are you doing something secretive?” A playful grin spread across her face. “Wait, don’t tell me – are we interrupting your date?”
“An!” Kohane giggled. “Don’t be silly.”
“D-Date?” Scarlet bloomed on Minori’s cheeks. “I… I don’t know if it is.”
“What?” Airi nearly spit out her drink. “Minori?”
Minori shot her a bashful expression. “I mean, we did just share an in-indirect…”
Airi pinched the bridge of her nose. “Please, just go back to the walkie-talkies.”
“What a coincidence that we ran into you two here,” Kohane said. “But actually, this is the perfect opportunity! Minori, this is my partner, An Shiraishi.”
An waved her hand with an endearing smile on her face. “Hello, hello! Nice to meet you.”
“N-Nice to meet you, An.” Minori gestured to Airi. “This is my partner, Airi Momoi.”
“Music partner?” An asked teasingly. “Or…”
“I-I’m not su–“
“Music partner!” Airi said. “You were right the first time.”
An giggled. “If you say so.”
Minori stole a glance at Kohane. “Um, I just wanted to say… this is all very new to me, but your partner seems very nice, so…” She inhaled deeply. “I fully support you, Kohane!”
“Awe, thank you so much, Minori!” She smiled warmly. “I support you and your partner, too!”
Minori looked at Airi with an unreadable expression in her eyes. “I’ll do my best.”
Excuse me, what? Do your best to what!?
“Your friends are interesting,” An said, laughing. “I’d love to hang out with you guys sometime. But for now how about we get back to our date, Kohane?”
Kohane tilted her head with an expression that was equal parts cuteness and confusion. “Our what?”