"Let me get this straight," Minako said, picking up another piece of karaage. "You – the same Rei who once spent three days hiding in your room because a classmate asked to borrow your notes – are now voluntarily getting involved in other people's love lives?"
We were sitting at the low table, dinner spread out before us. My parents had retreated to the kitchen, supposedly to prepare dessert, but I suspected they were giving us space to catch up. Or maybe they just wanted to avoid Minako's interrogation.
"I'm not getting involved," I protested weakly. "I'm just... helping."
"Uh-huh." Minako's grin widened. "And what exactly do you call orchestrating secret photography lessons and coaching someone through text messages?"
"Strategic retreat assistance?"
She nearly choked on her tea. "Oh my god, you're even making naval battle references now. This Segawa person is rubbing off on you."
I groaned, letting my head thunk against the table. "It's not like that. I just... I know what it's like, okay? To be the person everyone looks past. To want to connect but not know how."
"Rei-chan..." Minako's voice softened. She reached over to poke my forehead gently, the way she used to when we were kids and I was being too serious. "Look at you, all grown up and understanding people's feelings."
"I'm not—"
"The Rei I left four years ago would rather die than get mixed up in club politics," she continued, ignoring my protest. "She definitely wouldn't be playing matchmaker for shy photographers and club presidents."
"I'm not playing matchmaker!" I sat up, indignant. "I'm just helping Matsuda-kun communicate normally. And keeping Segawa from turning the club room into a naval museum. And making sure Akane doesn't work herself too hard with the festival preparations. And—" I stopped, seeing Minako's increasingly amused expression. "...I'm proving your point, aren't I?"
"Spectacularly." She popped another piece of karaage in her mouth, looking entirely too pleased with herself. "So what changed? When did my little hermit cousin become everyone's confidante?"
I thought about it. About Yuki finding me in the manga cafe, both of us hiding from the world in our own ways. About Akane's quiet determination to make the Photography Club something special. About Segawa's earnest enthusiasm, even when (especially when) it made others uncomfortable.
"I guess..." I said slowly, "I realized it's easier to understand people when you're not trying so hard to be invisible yourself."
Minako's expression shifted to something softer, more serious. "Mom mentioned you've been spending time with that Yuki girl from the manga cafe."
"Mm." I traced patterns in the condensation on my glass. "She's... different. Like me, but not like me. Does that make sense?"
"More than you'd think." Minako leaned back, studying me with that analytical look she usually reserved for her research subjects. "You know, in Germany, I studied how social bonds form in unexpected environments. How people who seem completely different can form these fascinating support networks."
"Please tell me you're not turning my life into one of your research papers."
"Of course not!" She paused. "Though now that you mention it..."
"Minako-nee!"
She laughed, reaching over to ruffle my hair despite my attempts to dodge. "I'm kidding! Mostly. But seriously, Rei-chan..." Her voice turned gentle. "I'm proud of you. It's not easy, letting people see you. Especially when you've gotten so good at being invisible."
I felt my face heat up. "Can we go back to you teasing me? This emotional support thing is worse."
"Nope! Consider this four years of cousin duties being delivered at once." She grinned mischievously. "Now, tell me more about this Ice Queen who got you reading shoujo manga. Should I be planning a wedding?"
I threw a cushion at her head.
From the kitchen, I heard my mother's badly suppressed laughter. "Dessert's ready!" she called out, finally ending my torment.
"This conversation isn't over," Minako stage-whispered as my parents returned with a plate of sliced fruit.
Looking at her eager expression, I had a sinking feeling she was right. Maybe I could ask Segawa to stage a naval battle reenactment as a distraction...
Then again, knowing Minako, she'd probably want to document it for her research.
The morning sun had barely crept over the school buildings when Yuki cornered me at my desk, her expression a rare mix of curiosity and amusement.
"So," she said, settling into the chair in front of me with unusual informality, "your message last night was frustratingly vague. What's this about Segawa-kun trying to recreate the Battle of Myeongnyang with tripods?"
I stifled a yawn, still tired from staying up late talking with Minako. "Exactly what it sounds like. He decided the arrangement of our club equipment had 'tactical significance.'" I made air quotes with my fingers. "Akane nearly had an aneurysm when he started drawing battle formations on the whiteboard."
"And the part about Matsuda-kun?"
"Managed three whole sentences about photographic composition before retreating. But," I held up a finger triumphantly, "he didn't stutter once."
Yuki's lips twitched. To anyone else, it would have been imperceptible, but I'd learned to read her micro-expressions. "Progress indeed. Though I'm more interested in how our dear club president responded."
"She gave him a spreadsheet."
"Of course she did." Yuki shook her head slightly, a few strands of perfectly straight hair falling across her face. "Only Suzuki-senpai would consider that flirting."
"To be fair, it was a very detailed spreadsheet. Color-coded and everything."
"How romantic," Yuki deadpanned, but there was warmth in her eyes. She leaned forward slightly, lowering her voice. "And the admiral's photography lessons? Any improvements?"
As if summoned by our conversation, Segawa's voice boomed from the hallway: "The morning light streams through yonder window like signal fires guiding ships to victory!"
"Well," I said, as several of our classmates jumped in surprise, "he's definitely got the enthusiasm part down."
Yuki's composed expression cracked just slightly – the equivalent of full-blown laughter for anyone else. "I still can't believe you got him into the club."
"Technically, he's still on probation. Akane's final verdict depends on his festival photos." I paused, remembering yesterday's events. "Though at this rate, I'm more worried about the equipment surviving his 'tactical repositioning' attempts."
"Speaking of the festival..." Yuki's tone shifted slightly, becoming more hesitant. "Have you thought about which events you're covering?"
"Not really. I figured I'd help wherever Akane needs me. Why?"
She reached into her bag and pulled out what looked suspiciously like a manga volume, keeping it partially hidden under her desk. "There might be a... cosplay component this year."
I felt my eyes widen. "Yuki-san, are you suggesting..."
"The student council approved it yesterday." A faint blush colored her cheeks. "And I may have already started working on a costume."
"Let me guess – Hana-chan from 'The Ice Queen's Secret Garden'?"
Her blush deepened. "It's a legitimate interpretation of the character."
"Of course it is." I tried and failed to hide my grin. "And I suppose you'll need someone to document this... legitimate interpretation?"
"If you're not too busy with naval battles and romance counseling," she said primly, but I could see the hopeful look in her eyes.
Before I could respond, another declaration echoed from the hallway: "These classroom formations mirror the strategies at Hansan Island!"
"I'd better go check on that," I said, standing up. "Before he tries to reorganize the desks into a crane wing formation."
"Rei," Yuki called softly as I headed for the door. When I turned back, she was carefully tucking the manga back into her bag. "Thank you."
I nodded, understanding all the things she wasn't saying. That's how it was with Yuki – the important stuff happened in the spaces between words.
Now I just had to figure out how to explain to Akane that we needed to reserve a camera for secret cosplay photos without revealing Yuki's carefully maintained Ice Queen image to the whole school.
Maybe Segawa wasn't the only one who could use a lesson in tactical planning.