I hear the door opening. The girls were talking, wrapped in their towels.

  “WHAT ARE THEY DOING HERE?! OH SHOOT, I FORGOT TO PUT UP THE BATHROOM IN USE SIGN!”

  Luckily, the bathtub’s curtain was pulled all the way.

  “We didn’t have a moment like this in a while. It sure throws me back!”

  “You’re on spot. I kind of missed our own time together.”

  “Aw…so cute. Why don’t you act around Kaito like that?”

  What?! How did I get dragged into this?

  “Where did that come from? I’m acting usual around him. Lately, I started getting along better with him…but as I told you previously, I can’t control myself.”

  So she really is a tsundere? I guess…God help me, if I get out of here unnoticed I’m going to a shrine as soon as possible.

  “Kaito was so cool today at the studio…he was putting in such passion.”

  “He’s always been like that. It was always an extra motivation for him to make his friends happy. He was like that when we were kids too, impersonating characters from his superhero stories.”

  “I really love his acting. I wish we could do this all the time.”

  What is she saying?! I mean, I know she’s impressed by my voice…but what does she mean by all the time? Am I getting another wrong idea?!

  Akane gets a crazy idea, heading towards the bathtub.

  “I’m getting in the bathtub. I hope it’s full of hot water.”

  WORST SCENARIO POSSIBLE. AND IT’S AKANE!!!! Dear god…please help me.

  Mai reaches out to her and grabs her hand.

  “Wait! It’s empty. There has been nobody in it today.”

  “I guess you’re right. I will dry myself and leave now, my friends are waiting for me.”

  “I’m coming too!”

  “I’m going to shower a little longer. I want to try a new hair treatment.”

  “Okay, take your time.”

  Thank you gods! Now there’s just Mai.

  She washes her hair as I hold my breath like a soldier pretending to be dead.

  “I wonder what Kaito is up to…”

  I’m next to you, that’s what I’m up to!

  “Why do I keep thinking of him?”

  Maybe because you get cozy sleeping next to me sometimes? And you tease me more than you should?

  “I’ll just let it be, I guess. Let’s see what the girls are up to.”

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Mai starts drying her hair with a hair dryer.

  I let out a relaxed sigh, knowing I can breathe normally right now.

  She leaves the bathroom, and I hurry to get out and dry before she comes back for whatever reason.

  What a scene…I almost got caught. Phew!

  I dress up and start drying my hair.

  The door handle rustles.

  Bingo. Mai came back, 5 minutes later.

  “Kaito…what are you doing here?

  I struggle to find a good reply. Evrika!

  “I washed my hair. What about you?”

  “When did you get here? We were here until 5 minutes ago?”

  I know that already!

  “I heard you leave the bathroom and decided to take a very quick shower, that’s all.”

  She lets out a casual smile. “Aha, okay…”

  She starts brushing her teeth while I finish drying up my hair.

  We both finish at the same time. She then grabs me from behind.

  “Liar. I know you were in the bathtub when we were here. That’s why I stopped Akane.”

  My heart froze.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Don’t act like a fool. I don’t know how the others didn’t sense you, but I did. Call it the sixth sense!”

  “Uh…okay, busted. I forgot to put up the sign.”

  I get down on my knees.

  “Please don’t tell anyone about this!”

  Her teasing grin came back.

  “Okay. But promise me we are going to take a dip together next time when we go to an onsen.”

  My face flushed.

  “Okay…anything.”

  Looking proud, she leaves the bathroom and heads to her bedroom.

  She knew…huh.

  I head to sleep, but my plans are sent off the tracks. Mai comes energetically in my room and turns on the lights.

  “Kaito! Wake up!

  “Mai, what’s up?”

  “Can we talk?”

  “I’m half-asleep, can’t we do it tomorrow?”

  She looks at me worried.

  “No, it can’t.”

  I turn to her and notice her uneasy face.

  “Is something troubling you?”

  “Yes…”

  I glance at her, confused.

  “What’s up?”

  “You see…I want us to spend some time together.”

  I stare at her in disbelief. I was expecting a more serious problem.

  “I’m going to sleep.”

  “Hey, no! Not so fast! Please…”

  Hold up. What’s with the sudden change in tone.

  For a second, I can sense the childhood version of Mai. Did she feel alone again?

  “Actually, are you okay?”

  “It’s nothing. I told you, I just want to spend time with you.”

  Is she really not hiding anything?

  “Okay. What do you want us to do?”

  She starts rambling through my closet.

  “Hey, don’t-“

  She took out an album with us from when we were all kids.

  “Let’s take a look at it. Let's go down the memory lane!”

  “Sure! Should I call Akane over?”

  “She’s asleep. Let her be, it’s just the two of us!”

  “Okay.”

  Mai starts turning page after page.

  “Look, here’s when Akane got lost in the woods!”

  “Haha, I remember. She held my arm the whole time, acting like I was a hero knight or something.”

  “Oh, here’s from our first Kyoto trip!”

  The five photos on the page remind me of good times.

  Wait. The bottom left photo.

  It was when she kissed me on my cheek! I can’t forget such a miracle!

  She pretended not to see anything and turned over to a new page.

  “Oh, here’s from the playground!”

  It was a photo of all three. Mai, Akane, and I.

  Mai was sticking very close to me in all these photos. What’s up with that?

  “I miss those times. We all used to be so close…I mean, we still are, but…you’re holding back.”

  “Mai…could it be possible that you…”

  Her eyes widen, almost screaming of joy.

  “What?...”

  “Feel nostalgic for our past closeness?”

  Her face falls.

  “I’m still being myself!”

  “It’s not that…uh, you’re hopeless. And dense. Let’s just go to sleep. I had my share of fun tonight.”

  “Wait, what?”

  She closes the door and leaves my room.

  What…wait. Something else?

  I take a look back at the photos again.

  Hold up. Mai is especially close to me in these photos. Could it be that…?

  I can’t jump to a conclusion, but let’s hold the idea for a while.

  I turn the lights off and go to sleep. Or at least that’s what I wanted, because my thoughts kept distracting me.

  The night passes, and we’re back at school the next day.

  I get called to the student’s council office , again.

  “Kaito Minase, of class 1-C, please present yourself to the student council office.”

  “Again? What now…”

  I head towards the office and I see a girl walking on the hallway. I heard about her before, the boys call her the fourth goddess of the High school, though I never knew her name. Her cute deep purple hair, dark blue eyes and her model build reminded me of something…but I shook the thought off my head and continue my way to the office.

  The broadcast is heard again, just as I pass her.

  The girl is surprised. Her eyes widened.

  “Minase…Kaito?”