Going back in time, when both me and Asanagi returned to Amami-san's side.
"…Umi, are you sure this is alright?"
"Mhm. I think it's the best option for all of us."
In the end, Asanagi decided that both of us should refrain from hanging out for a while.
As soon as Asanagi apologized, Amami-san said that she would let bygones be bygones. She said that she wasn't mad anymore and she wouldn't mind if Asanagi were to continue to hang out with me during the weekend.
However, Asanagi didn't back down.
"Umi, you don't have to beat yourself up over this, okay? I'm the one at fault this time, I hurt you because I'm an idiot."
"No, Yuu, you aren't an idiot. I'm the idiotic one. I acted tough and hid everything from everyone, thinking that I did everything for you. But that was just an excuse. In the end, I did that because I couldn't trust you. And I called myself your best friend, what a joke…"
If only she confronted her two friends when she first found out that they lied to her, or immediately talked about it with Amami-san, maybe the four of them could have discussed everything properly.
Human relationship was like metal, once it was twisted, even if you tried to repair it, it would never be able to return to its original state.
Just like with her two friends, Asanagi and Amami-san's relationship would never return to how it was previously.
Sure those two cases were different, but from my observation, I didn't think that this was out of the realm of possibility.
"Maki-kun, are you okay with that? Umi is someone who will keep her word. If she says she won't hang out with you for a while, she really won't hang out with you…"
"Right… Well, I know how stubborn she could be."
We hadn't set a definite time frame, but considering her personality, it would take a while before we could hang out normally again.
Of course I would feel lonely. After all, we've been having a good time together all this time.
"Knowing that, you'll still follow through with this?"
"Yeah, I have to respect her decision, after all."
"…I see…"
After confirming our resolutions, Amami-san continued.
"…Seriously… Both of you are idiots!"
True. I mean, she went out her way to forgive us and yet here we were, asking her to not let us off easily.
"I'm sorry, Yuu. You see, I feel like I can't move on from this if I don't do at least this much… I don't want us to be 'best friends' only on paper… I want us to be real 'best friends', Yuu…"
"Umi…"
Unlike Amami-san, somewhere in Asanagi's heart, she probably couldn't bring herself to trust Amami-san. That was why she didn't consult Amami-san about her problem with Nitori-san and Houjou-san.
"Hey, Yuu…"
"What is it?"
"I'm a stubborn, petty, idiotic person with an ugly inferiority complex… There were even times when I was looking down on you… Despite that, are you still willing to be friends with me?"
Asanagi had been reflecting and tried to change herself. She was trying to become a true 'best friend' to Amami-san this time by exposing her uglier side to her.
"Friends? …Not best friends?"
"Mhm. I think it's better if we were to start over. Starting as friends… Wouldn't it be strange if we start over as best friends? I mean, how would that make sense?"
That was why she decided to stop hanging out with me for a while. Instead of trying to fix their relationship, she decided to start everything over instead.
"…Umi, are you serious?"
"Yes, I am."
Asanagi answered her without looking away. Seeing her resolution, Amami-san let out a sigh.
"Fine. If that's what you want. From now on, let's be friends for real, Umi."
"Thank you, Yuu. Thank you for listening to my selfishness."
"Mhm. You can be as selfish as you want with me from now on. I'll just have to be selfish with you as well, right~?"
The two of them faced each other and grabbed each other's hands tightly.
They said that they were going to start over and whatnot, but looking at how they were doing right now, it wouldn't be long before their relationship returned to normal. Hell, there was a big chance that they would become even better friends.
After all, both of them still cared about each other deeply.
* * *
Anyway, the three of us agreed to spend our weekends separately.
"Hey, Umi, where should we go today? We can go wherever you want to go!"
"Well, I haven't gone to the arcade in a while. Let's go there, there's a game I want to play."
Apparently they were going to go to the arcade today. It seemed like Amami-san had turned down her other friends' invitation to hang out so she could go with Asanagi instead.
"Huh? That's unusual… What kind of game do you want to play?"
"A game to increase my stock of tokens."
"Huh? Increase your tokens?"
Amami-san tilted her head in confusion. Yeah, Asanagi decided to show her uglier self to Amami-san, but showing off gambling addiction was simply overkill.
[Maehara: Asanagi…]
[Asanagi: I know, I know.]
[Amami: Huh? What is it? What are you guys talking about?]
[Maehara: Amami-san, please, you're my only hope. If this dumbass goes out of control later, please take her tokens away.]
[Amami: Huh? Uhm, I don't understand, but sure. If things get dangerous I'll do that.]
[Asanagi: You two, what are you on about? I know my limits, I won't go out of control.]
[Maehara: Said every addict ever.]
[Amami: Huh? I don't understand, seriously, what are you guys talking about??]
By the way, Amami-san joined our group chat and we used this whenever we needed to communicate.
Of course, we could still chat in private, but I found myself using this group chat more often, lately.
[Maehara: Then, I'll be going home first.]
[Amami: Sure. Bye bye, Maki-kun.]
[Asanagi: Bye.]
After sending that, I went home alone as usual.
It was the first time in a long while that I was alone on Friday.
* * *
"…S-so cold… Ugh… the heating devices are all dead…"
My mom had called the repairman, but they wouldn't come until tomorrow, so I had to endure the cold tonight.
I prepared a warm cup of coffee and grabbed a blanket from my room. If I were to wear my sweatshirt and curl myself up in a blanket, I would be able to endure the cold for a while.
"Brr… Fuu…"
I wrapped myself in the blanket before sipping the coffee. I would be fine like this for a while.
Like always, I ordered dinner, but unlike usual, I decided to order myself some soup.
"Hello, this is Maehara."
{Ah, hello~ The usual, I assume?}
"Yes. Also, add corn soup to my order, please."
{Thank you very much for your patronage. Ah, we're a little short staffed today, so it'll take a little longer for us to deliver your order, I'm sorry for the inconvenience.}
"Ah, it's fine, please take your time."
{Thank you for the understanding. Then, we'll send the usual delivery lady for you~}
Done. All I needed to do now was wait.
"Alright, for now I should…"
I thought for a moment about what I should do and decided to play a game like usual. I hadn't played online in a while since I had been playing against Asanagi. She was so persistent, she just refused to leave me alone.
"Whoops, I slipped… Ah… Damn…"
Perhaps it was because I stopped playing online for a while, but I felt really rusty. Well, I had been spending the last three months bullying Asanagi, this was bound to happen, I guess.
"…I should stop playing."
Normally, I would've played to the point where I'd lost track of time, but this time, I turned off the game after I went on a losing streak. I went back to my room to get a manga.
This one was my favorite. Normally, I would be reading this over and over whenever I'd have the time, but this time…
"Mmm… It just doesn't feel the same…"
I got bored after reading the first few pages.
I tried to do other things as well, but the result was the same. I got bored and stopped soon after I started. In the end, I laid down on the couch while listening to music.
I had been doing the things I used to do to entertain myself, but I couldn't find myself enjoying them right now.
Of course, I knew why.
"…It just isn't the same without her…"
I thought I would be able to enjoy myself even if she wasn't around. After all, she messed with me and tried to pester me over every little thing, but now that she isn't here…
Her frustrated face when I beat her black and blue in the game… Her face when she laughed at those lame B-movies… Her stubbornness over her opinion about her favorite character…
For the past few months, she had always been by my side at this time of the week. The pretty and cool Asanagi Umi. Though whenever she was with me, she turned into a lame, timid, uncute and spoiled girl. But despite that, her smile was cute and she was my friend.
Friday without her just didn't feel the same.
But still, this was what we decided.
She was trying her best to fix her relationship with Amami-san. She was trying to be a friend that Amami-san could trust.
That was why I'm fine with this situation. Besides, this situation wouldn't last forever.
One day, everything would go back to normal again.
It wouldn't take long.
As I was thinking of that, the bell rang.
"Ah! My food is here, now where did I put the money again?"
Anyway, I should fill my stomach first.
"Yes, yes, I'll open the door–"
{Heya, Maki-kun~}
"Huh? Amami-san?"
It wasn't the delivery lady who came, but Amami-san, who was supposed to be at the arcade.
"What's wrong? Do you need something?"
{Yes, I got a delivery for you, Maki-kun… Jeez, don't be shy and come forward already, Maki-kun is here!}
{W-wait, Yuu! I understand, don't pull me over like that!}
"Huh? That voice…"
Amami-san pulled her while showing off her angelic smile like usual.
{H-hello, I'm from Pizza Rocket}
"…You aren't cut out for this, Asanagi…"
{S-shut up, you idiot! I hate you!}
She turned her face away as she said that. I was a hundred percent sure that it was my imagination, but her face looked cuter than usual when she did that.