Tsubaki smiled softly to Kosuke in return, but Sho’s comment had moved the conversation on to food. She herself realized that she had not eaten since breakfast this morning, using lunch time to speak with the economics teacher about her mother – they had been friends, so she’d promised an update when school started back up. As the two more rambunctious members of their small group prodded (Mina) and swatted (Sho) at each other, she tried to not make her stomach grumble. 

Sho had pulled his hand back to his side after shooing at Mina, the other still holding onto the strap of his school bag. Kosuke sounded like he was considering stopping by the new place, and Mina was fantasizing so it was pretty much a done deal. Sho looked to Tsubaki. “How about it?”

“Okay. I prefer just plain tuna in my onigiri, though.” She said shyly as she tucked some hair behind her ear, looking over to Mina with a smile. “Kawa-san’s tastes are much more adventurous.” 

Sho laughed when his friend also poked fun at Mina, pulling ahead to lead the group to the small shop. He was always adventuring downtown, and always had the news of events going on or new shops opening. Usually he’d drag Kosuke around with him when he didn’t have practice, but most times he would go it alone. 

Tsubaki, on the other hand, rarely visited downtown frequently – she often had to keep an eye on her siblings on days her mother was too tired – so, she hung back to follow. She was surprised when Kosuke walked in pace with her, but continued to walk as if they had been friends for a long time. She was often comfortable with people in this way. He, however, made her feel a little nervous. His question and then subsequent follow-up explanation made her smile once more as she glanced at him. “I’ve never been in a club before – I’ve always been part of committees for decorating and fundraising. The president’s friend who graduated last year put the idea in my head.”

She walked for a couple of paces with her hands still clasped at her front, bag hanging from her shoulder comfortably before she asked him the same question. “What about you, Uede-san?”

Thanks to Sho’s wandering downtown on his own so often, he found he’d outpaced them in his usual step. He remembered he had people following him for once though and slowed. It was an odd feeling, to have people with him in a group as he went downtown – usually it was just him and on occasion Kosuke. Now there was two girls joining them – girls he’d known for a while, but not personally. Tsubaki had always been more on the quiet side, patient and calm – almost a wallflower. Mina, on the other hand, was just as outgoing as he was. They’d bumped heads when they first started high school – both wanting to be the leader of groups. Eventually they decided that they could not work in the same group, but could coordinate teams together well. 

Mina called from behind him, distracting his thoughts ironically with the same idea he’d been getting towards. She’d been lucky she’d asked her second question to get a rise out of him, because there is no telling what he would have said. He dramatically sighed and hung his head, then cast a long-suffering look to Kosuke. “Can you believe this girl?”