I Want to Know Everything About Love

Since the day we had a fight, Taiyou-kun has started to keep a bit of distance from me.

Even though we say we’re keeping our distance, we still walk home together and hold hands. This is a face of confession. It’s just a matter of degree.

One of us should grow up and apologize, but since I think Taiyou-kun, who is hiding things, is in the wrong, I have no intention of backing down.

Two weeks after the fight, on a Saturday.

In other words, the day he promised to tell me his secret.

The three of us were being jostled by the train.

Taiyou-kun is quietly reading a paperback, and Mika-chan occasionally lifts her head and drools on my shoulder.

I took the first hit, but since I put a tissue in between, I hope the drool attacks from the second time onward will be neutralized.

Finally, Taiyou-kun is going to tell me the secret, but there are only women here…

We’ve already been on the train for an hour straight, and the scenery has completely turned urban.

It’s been a long time since I’ve gone this far.

“Yuki, we’re getting off next.”

“Got it. Mika-chan, wake up.”

“Munya. Where is this place?”

Mika-chan is cute as she is particularly silly right after waking up.

…..

We get off the train and walk a bit.

Following Taiyou-kun, Mika-chan and I are tagging along together.

It’s been years since I came to the heart of the city, and I’m overwhelmed by the glass-covered skyscrapers and the bustling crowds that move about so rapidly.

It’s a big and cramped place as if there’s no place for me here at all.

There are a few people who seem to only exist in the city, and I can’t help but wonder, “Are they really the same species as me?”

I wonder what people with that kind of appearance are thinking. I want to peek inside their heads, but there’s no time to stop.

While walking along, interested in the diversity of self-expression, Taiyou-kun points to one of the large skyscrapers.

“The destination is here.”

“Can you climb all the way up?”

“Ah, what I’m aiming for is the hotel’s banquet hall. It’s on the top floor.”

“Yay!”

Does it seem that fools smoke in high places, but is that really true?

■■■■■

The elevator took us to the ultra-high floor of the hotel. Mika-chan was captivated by the glass-paneled view.

It seems that there are several venues for holding receptions on this floor, but Taiyou-kun proceeds without hesitation. He must have come here many times.

I didn’t have any formal clothes, so I came in my uniform, but I felt so out of place that I honestly wanted to go home. Only Taiyou-kun is wearing a proper suit.

“Have you been here many times?”

“It’s already been over five times. Alright, we’ve arrived at our destination.”

We arrived at the Great Hall.

The entrance display shows “UOON E01 Branch.”

“Wow!”

In the unnecessarily spacious venue that seems to be about the size of eight tennis courts, round tables covered with white cloth are placed here and there. Along the walls, there are a bar counter and buffet dishes lined up, and there are probably around fifty guests. Some people are drinking alcohol.

Mika-chan seemed completely distracted by the unfamiliar atmosphere, having completely forgotten why we came.

As I was looking around, a girl about our age approached us.

She was wearing a dress so it’s immediately obvious that she’s put a lot of effort into her appearance. I don’t know much about fashion, but she seems to be used to it, and I actually think it suits her.

“Taiyou! Long time no see!”

“Ah… Kokonotsu Kuon-san. Long time no see.”

“The reception is over there. By the way, who are the girls next to you?”

“She is my girlfriend, and the girl next to her is my girlfriend’s best friend.”

“Her, the one from that thing… It sounds like a tongue twister. Hurry up and go to the reception!”

“Got it, I’ll be right back.”

When Taiyou-kun is not around, Kokonotsu-san suddenly closes the distance. A faint, pleasant scent of a girl wafts over me, and the sway of her earrings catches my attention.

Even though we’re the same age, she has a slightly more mature vibe. She’s a typical city kid.

This closeness in distance is likely to put her on my list of people I can’t stand right away.

“What’s your name?”

“I am Kihino Yuki.”

“I am Nijou Mika. Nice to meet you.”

She glanced at Mika-chan and then returned her gaze to me.

“Let’s get straight to the point. How far have you gone with Taiyou? Come on, spill it!”

“Wh-what do you mean by how far?”

Further pressure is applied.

The way he closes the distance is really strange. If I move even a little, there’s a risk of accidentally kissing.

Moreover, she called me Yutsuki, right? I’ve never even been given a nickname by Mika-chan.

When I am frozen and unable to move, Mika-chan responds to me.

“Yuki, as far as I know, they’ve only held hands, right?”

“Y-yeah.”

“Really? Would you stake your life on it?”

This is really true.

We held hands, but nothing else yet.

What else… What is she thinking?

Lately, things have been awkward, and we haven’t even held hands.

“Really, really. What kind of relationship do Kokonotsu-san have with Taiyou-kun?”

──Ah, this is bad.

The moment I finished speaking, I had a gut feeling that this one word was a bad move.

“Thank you for asking! He’s my best childhood friend, and we have a relationship where we agreed to get married someday if we didn’t have anyone else. But… he never confessed to me at all, so six months ago, I took the initiative and confessed to him. He said, ‘It feels more like a brother-sister relationship, so I can’t see it that way.’ Isn’t that cruel? I’ve even held his hand, and three days ago, we kissed for the first time in twelve years!”

“I see! So you’re Ootsuki’s childhood friend!”

Unexpectedly, Taiyou-kun has serious fans.

Even though I received such an intense greeting, I’m in awe of Mika-chan’s summarizing skills.

“Give me back my Taiyou!” or something like that, I guess.

Sorry, but I don’t plan to return it just yet.

When I was at a loss for words, Mika-chan changed the subject.

“Kokonotsu-chan can use psychic powers too, right?”

“Did you hear that? We call that kind of power observation fission here, but it’s personal information, so it’s better not to tell anyone. In other words, it’s a secret. I don’t have to talk about you guys either, and Taiyou-kun is destined to be my husband.”

“Got it. Let me know if you get the chance.”

“There must be something!”

There, Ootsuki-kun returned as he had finished at the reception.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, Kokonotsu-san, but I want to go greet them. Is it okay for a moment?”

“If it’s a request from Taiyou-kun, I’ll accept anything. But to think you’d leave me out and get all lovey-dovey with Yutsuki—”

“Ahem, ahem. Alright, let’s both go. Let’s meet the person who can tell us what we want to know.”

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