You and Hinata walk side by side as Kisaki walks behind you. You slowly zone out as Hinata speaks about the ways she wants to ask Takemichi out. You think about the events that happened in the future before you jump to the past. You slowly take a deep breath, causing Hinata to stop walking.
"I have no idea where my aunt would be..." You sigh as you stare around you. Hinata stares at you for a bit before sighing and nodding.
"We have been walking around for a while now... haven't we." She says.
"Mmm..."
"Don't you think she may have forgotten you?" Kisaki asks.
"If she forgot and went to my grandparent's house... they would have said something, and someone would have come to get me..." You softly sigh. Kisaki stares at you for a bit before looking away.
"That doesn't mean she didn't forget you..." Kisaki sighs. "Have you considered that maybe... she's somewhere else? Like with a friend... or boyfriend?" Kisaki asks. You stare at him before shaking your head.
"Hikari doesn't have friends like that... she mostly goes home and st-" You pause for a second, remembering a conversation you had with Hikari in the past. She mentioned having a crush on an older guy- and she would often spend time with him. "Actually..." You quickly turn and rush off into the distance. Hinata follows behind you. Kisaki watches before he follows behind.
You stop in front of a gate. You're standing in front of Mikey's house.
"Where are we?" Hinata asks. You slowly look at her and then back at the house.
"This is the home of a guy my aunt is- well, has a crush on." You softly say.
"HUH? AW SO CUTE!" Hinata bubbles. You stare at her and then gently scratch the back of your head. Kisaki stares at the two of you before taking a deep breath and sighing very loudly. You and Hinata turn your heads towards him. He tilts his head a bit and makes an annoyed-like face.
"Okay... are you going to go in? Why are we standing outside...?" He sighs. "Don't you think it would have been better to just- I don't know- maybe just walk to your grandparent's house?" He huffs. "Why did we have to go searching for your aunt?"
"You know you willingly came with me... I didn't force you to come with me." You listlessly say as your eyes bore into his. Hinata smiles at the two of you before giggling. You and Kisaki look at her in confusion.
"Haha! Sorry, did I just make it weird?" She laughs. "It's always so funny watching both of you interact..."
"Huh?" Kisaki looks at Hinata, feeling more confused.
"You both are so cute- fighting like a married couple." She giggles.
"Ew- no." Kisaki recoils in disgust.
"Eugh..." You cringe. Hinata laughs again.
"Who are you guys?" A voice says from beside you.
"EEEEEK!" Hinata squeaks, flinching back a bit. You look in the direction of the voice. Your eyes widen when you see the familiar face.
Mikey...
"Why are you guys standing outside of my house?" He asks. You stare at him, feeling anxious to speak. His hair is cut short, and he looks younger, not the same Mikey you saw in the future.
"She's looking for her aunt." Kisaki answers. You quickly look at Kisaki, then back towards Mikey.
"Why would your aunt be at my house?" Mikey asks, glaring at you. You look away, feeling a panic in your chest.
"Uhm... my aunt often talks to uh- a guy named Shinichiro... and I thought she would be here..."
"Shin?" He slowly says. "Why would my brother be talking to some old lady...?" He sighs.
"HUH?! HIKARI ISN'T OLD!" You rasp.
"Hikari? Wait... your aunt is Hikari?" Mikey asks with wide eyes.
"Yes..." You nod. "She's not that much older than me... she's still in high school." You softly say, frowning a bit.
"..." Mikey stares at you for a while before sighing and turning around. "Well- she doesn't come here... she would be at my brother's shop..."
"Your brother's shop?" You repeat. That's right... Shinichiro runs a bike shop.
"I'll take you there." Mikey says, walking off. You follow behind him. Hinata follows behind. Kisaki stares at the three of you before turning away. You look behind yourself, watching him disappear into the distance. You look in front of you, staring down at the ground, thinking about what he said to you in the past, then you slowly look up at the back of Mikey's head.
After walking a bit, the three of you arrive at the motorcycle shop Mikey mentioned.
"Shin..." Mikey calmly says as he walks in. Shinichiro pops his head up from behind a bike. Hikari is sitting a bit from him, but still to his side. She slowly looks towards Mikey when Mikey walks in. You and Hinata walk in behind him. Her eyes widen when she sees you.
"What's up Mikey?" Shinichiro says, looking at you and Hinata and then back at Mikey.
"These two were looking for you..." Mikey calmly says.
"Oh?" Shinichiro looks at you and then stands up. "What did you two little ladies need?" He softly smiles. You stare at him, your eyes relaxing a bit.
"Eugh..." Mikey quietly cringes.
"Uh... I'm sorry Shin- Kun..." Hikari softly says, rubbing the back of her head. "She's looking for me."
"Huh?" Shinichiro looks at Hikari in confusion. Hikari walks up towards you, causing Mikey to step aside.
"This is my niece Yuki... and her friend uh-" She looks at Hinata, trying to remember her name.
"Hina..." You sigh.
"Yeah- Hina..." She smiles.
"Oh- I didn't know you had a niece..." Shinichiro smiles. "She doesn't look that young, though... she looks like she'd be the same age as Mikey." Shinichiro calmly says as he pulls the small towel from his shoulder and begins wiping his hands with it.
"Yeah- haha... well- I am the youngest... and my sister had her when I was five..." Hikari awkwardly laughs. You take a deep breath and turn away from her, walking out of the shop. Hinata follows behind you. Mikey watches as you leave.
"I... Uh- I'll talk to you later, Shinichiro-Kun..." Hikari softly says as she grabs her stuff and rushes out the door, catching up to you. "UUUUGGHHH! Yuki- Did you really have to come looking for me? Couldn't you have just gone to my Mom and Dad's without me..." She sighs.
"Isn't that guy like... twenty-five..." You calmly ask. Hikari slowly looks towards you with shock in her eyes. "HUH HOW DID YOU- DON'T TELL YOUR MOM PLEASE!" She cries.
You stand outside of Hinata's complex. She prepares to walk up the stairs before stopping and turning to look at you. You look at her, feeling confused.
"Hey- Yuki... do you think it's a good idea for me to ask Takemichi out? My other friends say otherwise... but I trust your judgement more." She softly says. You stare at her for a bit before looking down at your pink hands. You tilt your head a bit before looking up towards her.
"I think you should go for it... tell him how you feel." You smile. Hinata's eyes widen before she smiles back.
"Thank you, Yuki." She softly bubbles. You watch her as she walks up the stairs. Your eyes relax as you stare down at your hands. You turn your head to see Hikari, crouching by a lamppost and staring down at her phone. You stand beside her, looking down at her phone.
"What are you doing?" You ask. Hikari quickly looks up at you and then flips her phone closed.
"Why are you so nosy?" She huffs as she gets up.
"I'm not nosey..." You sigh.
"Mmm- ok..." She puts her phone into her pocket, and you both walk in the direction of your grandparent's house.
When you walk in, you're greeted by your grandpa, who gives you a long hug. Your grandmother kisses you on the forehead, and then you hear your mother and sister have a small argument about how your mother believes Hikari forgot to get you, and that's why you both got there late. Not long after you all eat.
After your meal, you sit on the floor with your grandfather.
"So tell me, mochi... what really took you both so long to get here..." Your grandpa asks. You stare at him a bit before lying down flat on your back.
"She went to see this guy..."
"So she did forget you...?" Your mother sighs as she walks into the kitchen. You look towards her as she prepares to give Hikari a scolding.
"Relax Hanami... your sister is at that age." Your grandmother says as she hands your grandpa a small snack. Your grandpa thanks her and slowly begins opening the paper towel wrapped around it.
"But mom... this is the third time she forgot Yuki-" Your mother sighs louder.
"Then go get her next time."
"Mom... if you keep spoiling her, she'll turn into a brat when she's older."
"Hanami..."
"Yeah, yeah... whatever- I get it... I understand." Your mother shakes her head and walks out of the kitchen, grabbing her jacket. "Come on Yuki... let's go... I want to stop at one more place before getting home."
"Ok..." You slowly nod. You stand up and hug your grandpa before running to grab your jacket. Your grandmother gives you a kiss on the forehead again and hands you a dessert.
"It's extra filled..." She whispers. You smile at her.
"Be safe you two." Your grandmother says, waving her hand as you and your mother leave. You follow behind your mother, who holds her hand out for you to grab. You wave back at your grandmother.
You stand outside with your mother. Your mother knocks on the door of a house that looks familiar. The door slowly opens, and your eyes widen when you see who it is.
"Hi..." A soft voice says.
"Hi Mika... is your mother home?" Your mother asks.
"MAAA! MISS SANO IS HERE!" Mika shouts. You stare at the little girl. That must be Hana's little sister Mika. The door opens wider, and Hana's mother appears at the door.
"Hi... come in." She smiles. You and your mother walk in. You slowly take off your shoes and follow your mother into the living room. Hana's mother looks a bit older than your mother. She looks very tired, also.
"Yuki dear, the girls are upstairs if you want to join them." Hana's mother says.
"The girls?" You look at her, confused.
"Ayame and Hana."
"Oh, Chiyu's daughter is here?" Your mother asks.
"Yeah... it's the weekend, so I didn't mind... besides- they're dealing with a lot..." Hana's mother replies.
"Why do you say that?"
"Their youngest is sick... the little girl keeps falling ill... she said something about her having a very weak immune system."
"Aw... the poor girl." Your mother replies, with a sad look on her face. You look towards the stairway, thinking about who they were talking about. Chiyu's daughter? They must be referring to Ayame... so then the sick girl they're talking about is Asuka...
"You can go upstairs, Yuki... I'll be a bit-" Your mother softly says. You slowly nod before walking up the stairs. You slowly make your way towards Hana's room. You stop at the crack of her door as you hear Ayame and Hana talking.
"Do you think Ren likes me?" Hana asks.
"I donno... why do you keep asking that?" Ayame questions.
"I don't know... I was just wondering if he had said anything to you about me..." Hana softly says.
"Wait- do you have a crush on Ren?" Ayame asks.
"WHAT!? NO! I'M ASKING BECAUSE UH- YUKI LIKES HIM!"
"HUH? YUKI LIKES REN?" Ayame shouts.
"AHHHH! I WASN'T SUPPOSED TO TELL YOU THAT! HAHA!"
"Wait- I don't understand... if Yuki likes him, then why are you asking if he likes you...?" Ayame questions.
"Well, obviously because I'm beautiful... and I don't want him to start feeling for me... I don't wanna do that to Yuki..." Hana softly says.
You furrow your eyebrows. You push the door open, causing Hana and Ayame to look towards you.
"AHHHH!" Hana shouts and hits her head on the bottom of her table. She rubs her head aggressively. Both Ayame and Hana are lying under the table in Hana's room.
"Since when did I like Ren?" You softly ask.