"What are you doing here, Rep? Didn't we tell you not to move from where you were? What if we couldn't find you? I'd have to click my tongue in annoyance while going all 'this little brat…' You wouldn't want that, do you?"
"The shopkeeper chased me away— Wait, are you by yourself, Nitta-san? Where are the others?"
"I was with Seki, but he can't go through the crowd easily because he's too big, so I went on ahead. Besides, out of all five of us, I'm the one most used to dealing with the crowds, so it isn't a big deal for me."
Compared to Amami-san and Umi, it was true that Nitta-san was slender and smaller. But even so, it must not have been easy for her to find me here.
Although she was brushing it off as if it was nothing, I could tell how hard she worked based on how ruffled her yukata was.
"I see. Sorry for troubling you."
"Yes, you should be sorry! Anyway, I already knew that this would happen. Out of everyone, you're the only one who'd get lost in a crowd like this, you know? Oh yeah, I should tell everyone that I've found you."
"Right, Umi must have been worried."
"Obviously."
She immediately sent a message to the group chat.
…But, for some reason, there was a picture of me attached to the message with all the food in my hands.
[Nina: Found him.]
[Maehara: Sorry for the trouble.]
[Asanagi: Thank goodness.]
[Asanagi: Where are you at? I'll get there immediately.]
[Seki: Oh, that was quick. I was a little worried that we wouldn't find you before they start popping the fireworks.]
[Nina: I'll bring him there, so you guys should go back first. That means, you don't have to come here, Umi. Also, notify your brothers and the others.]
[Asanagi: …Fine.]
[Asanagi: I'll leave him to you then. Don't wander around by yourself, Maki.]
[Maehara: Got it.]
She was treating me like a child, but then again, only a child would get lost like this, so it wasn't like I had the right to complain.
"Alright, let's get back. Just in case you'd get lost again, I'll hold onto you."
"…Sorry for the trouble."
After that, since I'd already lined up at a stall, we ended up buying some drinks from there. Thanks to that, both my hands were full. Since that was the case, Nitta-san grabbed the sleeves of my yukata so I wouldn't get lost again.
In this regard, she didn't hold anything back. She just brazenly tugged on my sleeves without a care. We were supposed to be classmates, but she treated me like I was her younger brother.
"…Now you owe me another one, Rep. Seriously, when will you pay me everything back?"
"Uh… Do you want my boba as a payment?"
"Hell no, I'm not thirsty and that drink is outdated already."
Although I had only started to talk with her since the incident at that family restaurant a year ago, ever since then, Nitta-san has been helping me in various ways.
We had a bad impression of each other at first and both of us probably expected that we'd grow apart because of the class change, but things ended up in the completely opposite direction. Instead, we became close enough that we could walk together at a festival like this.
Hopefully, I could do something to help her out and repay her favor. If I kept on the receiving end of our relationship, I'd be living ridden in guilt.
And speaking of repaying her favor… The event that happened recently came to my mind…
"…Nitta-san, I'll definitely repay you one day, but the thing that you asked me the other day… I won't do that."
"Hm? Well, sure. Honestly, I called it a 'date,' but really, I just wanted to hang out with you, just the two of us. As friends. What, are you feeling conscious of me? Even though you already have such a cute girlfriend?"
"No, that's just not true."
"Saying that without hesitation, hm? I guess you could be firm if you want to, huh, Rep?"
I still didn't know what her true intention was, but it seemed like she hadn't given up on trying to go out with me.
Personally, I had always thought that if you were to invite someone of the opposite s*x to a date (?) like that, it meant you had some interest towards that person. But, my belief contradicted what Nitta-san had said.
The kind of boy that she liked was someone like Talkizawa-kun. In other words, someone who was good looking, good at sports and had a nice personality. Someone who was the complete opposite of me.
That was why when she asked me out, more than surprised, I was confused.
Questions such as; 'Why me? Why was she asking me about this in front of Umi?' Rose in my mind.
Nitta-san out of all people should know that I wouldn't say yes to something like this and Umi would definitely express her dissatisfaction.
…I still couldn't understand how a girl's mind worked.
"Let's talk about that later. For now, let's meet up with others first. The meeting place is just a little further ahead."
"…Okay. Though, I'd rather not talk about it ever again."
"Well, whatever you say, I won't give up that easily. I'm quite the persistent girl, after all."
"You said that, but you gave up on Takizawa-kun easily."
"Okay, that's just too far! Anyway, I won't give up on him too! Unlike Umi and Yuuchin, I always keep my options open!"
"…Well, that sounds like an answer you'd come up with, Nitta-san."
While we were chatting like that, I turned my gaze on her.
I didn't want to sound judgmental, but honestly, she was cute in her own ways. After becoming friends with her, I noticed how good she was at taking care of others. I guess that was why Umi and Amami-san took a liking to her.
However, this and that were different. While I wanted to know what was the purpose behind her actions, I also didn't want to spend my weekends with someone who wasn't my girlfriend.
No matter what anyone said, Maehara Maki belonged to Asanagi Umi. For me, Umi was my priority and I'd do everything to prevent her from feeling uncomfortable.
Even if Umi were to agree— No, there was no way she would, that girl got jealous easily.
"Anyway, let's stop talking about it. I'm hungry, c'mon hurry up!"
"S-Stop pulling me, I won't go anywhere!"
"That's what people who'd keep getting lost always say!"
Still, if Nitta-san really had no interest in me, why would she ask me out like that?
While I knew that she'd just become evasive if I were to ask her now, I couldn't help but wonder about what her true intentions were.