After we made up, the four of us, Sumire, Alicia, Yuka, and I, started chatting, sharing memories that oddly didn't include each other.
"I'm honestly surprised... So, Yuka is your sister?" I said, still trying to process the new knowledge.
Sumire gave me a soft smile. "Yeah… A lot has happened."
"We do look alike, don't we?" Yuka chimed in playfully as she wrapped her arms around Sumire from behind.
I looked at the two sisters closely. If there was a resemblance, it was probably in their hair color… but that was about it. There was something completely different about their aura—Sumire's reserved presence, and Yuka's bold energy.
And then…
"Hey! Were you just glancing at our chests?!" Yuka shot me a suspicious look.
"Eh? No, I wasn't… really," I replied, quickly looking away.
"Himeya," Alicia joined in with a mischievous grin, "Should I report that to Touka?"
"Please, Alicia… don't make this worse than it already is…"
And just like that, we all burst into laughter.
"So, Himeya," Sumire leaned forward curiously, "The rumor about you and Touka... so it wasn't just a rumor, huh?"
I paused for a moment, the laughter fading slightly as I glanced up at the evening sky. I thought about what might've happened if I had never ended up with Touka.
"…Yeah," I finally said. "Like you said… a lot has happened."
"Ehh, no fair. Tell us the whole story!" Sumire pouted playfully.
"Haha… alright, alright. I'll tell you."
I began recounting the first time I ever talked to Touka, all the way up to the moment we officially became a couple.
"Hehhh… You waited that long at the aquarium? But she told you she wouldn't come, didn't she?" Sumire said, almost in disbelief.
"…Well, that's love for you. Makes you do stupid things without thinking."
"What about Kanemoto-senpai?" Yuka asked suddenly.
"Uguisu-senpai, huh…" I looked down for a moment. "Last I heard, she was in Germany… recovering. I really hope she's doing okay."
"And why did you choose Touka over her?" Sumire asked this time, her voice softer.
"Hmm… how do I even explain it…" I scratched the back of my neck. "Touka… she felt like a stray cat to me. Lost, uncertain, but trying her best not to show it. I couldn't let her stay lost like that. So, I took her in and gave her all the love I could."
"Phew, that's so romantic it's almost illegal," Yuka teased, laughing.
"For me," I continued, "Touka is a beautiful girl who'll go to any lengths just to prove she's capable. Especially when it involves me… she'll give it her all. That's why I love her."
Without realizing it, those embarrassing words had slipped right out of my mouth.
"Got it. I recorded all of that," Alicia said, smugly holding up her phone.
"A-Alicia?! You recorded it?!"
"Yep. 100% guarantee Touka-chan will smile when she hears this. Hehe."
"Ah… come on…"
Sumire looked at me, her eyes suddenly glistening with tears. Then she started laughing.
"To think… you'd be the kind of guy to say something like that, Himeya…"
"Seriously… our usually expressionless Himeya is actually such a softie," Yuka added, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye.
And for a brief moment, under the evening sky, we all laughed together—feeling just a little warmer inside.