/three-person viewpoint/
Cafe Yoneda Vader Coffee. It's a food and drink chain located in a commercial district. Maria, Komachi, and Chiaki were seated at a table for four. A social gathering without the organizer present was taking place. The atmosphere was awkward, and there was a silence rate of over 80% as the three seated individuals didn't seem to have anything to say to each other.
"Your magic was amazing earlier," said one of the seated individuals.
"Yeah, it was. That was the biggest one I've ever seen. This place is really amazing. According to SNS, it's an advertisement for a new product," replied another.
"Really?" asked the first person.
"Yeah, look, it's even in the online news," said the second person.
"Wow, that's lucky that we can see it while we're here on vacation," said the first person.
A couple sitting at a table behind them were also discussing the large-scale magic they had just witnessed. Other tourists at surrounding tables were also discussing the topic. However, Maria, Komachi, and Chiaki did not touch upon the topic at all. They didn't even make eye contact with each other. They were each engaged in their own activities, such as looking at the scenery outside, checking their phones, or asking for a refill of their tea. It was as if they were attending a wake.
It was announced over the amusement park's loudspeaker that the large-scale magic displayed earlier in the sky was part of an advertisement. Even the Mahoro academy girls had never seen something so large before. They had touched upon the topic of the magic an hour ago, but it had since faded away.
After clearing her throat with a cough, Komachi broke the silence and asked Chiaki, "Um, can I ask your name again?"
Chiaki responded by introducing herself to Homura, her junior, once again.
"I'm sorry to ask so many times. I just don't understand what Amachi-senpai meant by his parting words. What does 'vice leader' mean?"
(Ayaka-senpai seems to be a member of the party. What does 'vice leader' mean?)
"I don't know about that. But speaking of which, you're a member of Suguru... no, Amachi-kun's party, right?"
"Yes, I am. Maria-senpai is too, right?"
"That's right, but..."
Maria placed her teacup on the table with a clatter.
"I'm also a member of the party, but I was recently recruited. They were so persistent," Chiaki emphasized the word "persistent" and sighed, shoulders slumping.
"I was also recruited persistently... but Homura-san is different," Maria lied with a twitching mouth.
A petty competition of one-upmanship over trivial words was taking place. At the same time, despite nobody being Amachi's lover, an air of tension reminiscent of a victim waiting for a cheating man hung in the atmosphere.
"Ugh... well, anyways," thought Homura. (I feel like I'm being provoked right now, but I need to stay calm and assess the situation. Maria-senpai is incredibly beautiful, and Ayaka-senpai is a stunningly gorgeous girl. Amachi-senpai has an average face, but there are tons of men like him. So why were these two beauties recruited? He's a mysterious person. He even played the role of a suspicious person named Tom. He's a person with the talent of a sword saint, but still... I can't believe he's able to recruit such beautiful women. His personality is pretty much shot.)
"Anyway, it's getting late, isn't it? What's he doing?" Maria looked at the clock hanging in the center of the store, and it was already past 8 pm and about to become 9 pm soon.
(It's too late. I have so many things I want to ask right now. Just how crowded is the restroom? Could it be... he's with another woman!? Ah, it's possible. He's the kind of guy who does various things with different women in secret...) Maria thought so.
"I guess so. Did he run away?" (Senpai tends to run away when things become inconvenient for him. He often goes gambling or spends money on peculiar and erotic books. I've seen him count bundles of yen bills with a wicked smile on his face.) Komachi thought so.
"Oh, my God"
(So, it can't be true, right? Suguru-kun. Let me hear the rest of what you were going to say. I had decided on my answer being "gladly". Although I was quite taken aback by what you said earlier... but making friends means accepting each other, right?) ayaka feels that way.
"..."
Silence.
"Anyway, Ayaka-san. What were you doing with Amachi-san today?"
(Yes, what were you doing with Amachi-san?)
"Um, wasn't it a date?"
(Yeah, it was definitely leading up to a confession. If it wasn't a date, then what else could it be?)
Chiaki blushed and looked down.
"That's not true, is it!?"
Maria stood up in anger.
"What's wrong, Maria-san?"
Chiaki flinched and took a defensive stance reflexively.
"Wait, Maria-senpai. Please calm down."
Komachi urged her to sit back down as Maria held her chest and paled, shaking her head before sitting down.
"Uh, yes. I was just caught off guard by what you said."
(A date!? The one word I didn't want to hear. Ayaka-san and Amachi-san are dating after all!? Ugh! That's a blow to my heart. But I'll get over it. Even if the contents of the letter haven't been conveyed, there's still a chance. I'm probably a beautiful girl... I won't let the opportunity to become someone's bride slip away!)
"Well, I guess so..."
(I could have guessed it was just a regular date. Maria-senpai is overreacting so much. I had a feeling that Maria-senpai had feelings for Amachi-senpai, but I didn't think he would have any interest in girls... But he actually went on a date with Ayaka-senpai. It definitely looked like a date from the sidelines. They had fun at the amusement park, had lunch, and rode attractions.)
And then, the atmosphere improved and it seemed like Amachi was about to confess his feelings. For some reason, I felt like I couldn't let that happen, even though I don't care who that garbage Amachi is dating...
But anyway, we need to change the subject for now. Maria seems like she's about to erupt.
"In any case, what is Amachi really doing?" Komachi worried about changing the topic to something else.
"Yeah," Chiaki agreed and forced the conversation off track.
In the end, Amachi Suguru never showed up in front of the three of them and their get-together was disbanded. Later, it was reported in the news that the water supply in Onogoro was temporarily unusable and some sewage districts collapsed.