Tokyo: Oreimo

Ryosuke sat on the other side of the aisle, notebook in hand, continuing to work on his manuscript.

Phoenix Inu Saori leaned against him, watching his pen move across the paper, and occasionally chatted with him for a few minutes.

"Shi Yuze, is this really your first time?"

Looking at the notes about the script for "White Album 2", Saori Hououin couldn't help but ask a question.

Which aspect are you referring to?

Ryosuke glanced at her, quite curious about what she had asked.

"in love."

"Of course it's the first time."

This is the first time I've ever experienced this, both in my memory and in my entire life.

"Then why are you so skilled?"

Phoenix Inu Saori pointed to a passage in the notebook where Ryosuke was writing a dialogue between Touma Kazusa and Kitahara Haruki.

The scene is set in a snowy winter. Touma Kazusa is about to travel to America. Kitahara Haruki only finds out at the last minute, when it's too late to turn back, and questions her about it.

.....

"Why didn't you discuss it with me? Why... Touma?"

"....."

"You were the one who disappeared from my sight first, weren't you? You were the one who ran off to a place I couldn't reach, weren't you?"

"So seemingly unattainable, yet so close at hand—you're the one who came up with this method of torture, aren't you?"

"Like that... every single day, right before my eyes, tearing my heart apart... and saying it's all my fault... it's so cruel..."

"..."

"I grabbed Touma with my own hands and kissed her."

She pushed my chest away forcefully, and the next instant, she slapped me hard across the face.

"Stop joking...stop joking!"

"Why..."

"How come you're so skilled at this?!"

"How many times have you and Setsuna kissed?!"

...

"Is there?"

Ryosuke was a little confused about this. If we're talking about kissing, he should be considered quite inexperienced, right?

He glanced at Phoenix Saori instinctively, then his gaze moved down to her lips.

That day at the hot spring was my first time practicing.

"Where are you looking?" Phoenix Inu Saori chuckled, a blush rising to her cheeks, and whispered, "If you want to kiss me, now is a no-go time."

She put her index finger to her lips and winked at Ryosuke.

Ryosuke chuckled.

There's no way you could do something like that on a tram.

"I'm not referring to that kind of thing, but rather, Shi Yuze, you clearly have no experience in dating, so how are you able to write this kind of work?"

Anyone would be curious.

FSN is another matter, while Clannad focuses more on family relationships.

But the story he is currently writing is about genuine, complicated love.

"That's probably what talent is."

"talent?"

Phoenix Inu Saori chuckled with a hint of amusement, but didn't press the matter further.

'He has such a talent for writing, but in real life he's completely clueless.'

Recalling all the times she had made her advances, the man in front of her always looked embarrassed and as if he were being joked with. If he had responded even once, she probably wouldn't have been able to suppress her emotions anymore.

That's why she decided to take the initiative during this team-building celebration.

'Because if we don't take the initiative now, we might never have the chance to act again.'

She watched Ryosuke continue scribbling in his notebook, then glanced past him and at the seat on the other side of the aisle.

Rina Inoue was looking down, her fingers unconsciously tracing circles on her knees, occasionally glancing up at the blonde girl beside her.

Ling Nai remained facing the window, her blurry profile reflected in the glass, revealing no emotion.

'You've done something despicable, Saori.'

Phoenix Inu Saori sighed inwardly.

......

At 3 p.m., the train arrived at Chiba Station.

After saying goodbye to the other members of the company on the train, the brother and sister got off the train together.

Ryosuke stood on the platform, watching the train gradually disappear into the distance. Inside the carriage, Phoenix Inu Saori smiled and waved to him until she vanished.

He looked away and turned to look at his side.

Ling Nai had already walked several steps away. Her light pink coat stood out in the crowd, and her golden ponytail swayed gently with each step.

The girl did not wait for him.

Instead of urging him to leave as usual, or muttering "annoying guy" and walking ahead on her own, she would always slow down and wait for him to catch up.

Today is different.

Her back was straight, and her steps were quick; her back seemed to say, "Don't follow me."

Ryosuke stood there for two seconds, then took a step and followed.

It takes about 20 minutes to walk from Chiba Station to Takashiro's house.

The two walked one after the other, always keeping a distance of three or four steps between them.

Ryosuke watched Ling Nai's retreating figure, his mind replaying everything that had happened from last night to today.

That attitude last night wasn't the first time I'd seen it in Ling Nai, but it probably lasted the longest.

This morning in the hotel restaurant, she didn't look at him once, didn't even say "good morning," just sipped her miso soup slowly, and then went back to her room to pack her luggage.

Then, on the train, she kept her face facing the window and didn't even take the box of strawberry daifuku he offered her.

Rina Inoue accepted the offer and gave him a wink, which probably meant, "Leave it to me."

Judging from Ling Nai's state when she got off the bus, Inoue Rina obviously didn't do anything.

"...Are you angry?"

Logically, he should be able to figure out the reason.

But the problem is, he can't figure it out.

If it's because I didn't let her drink at the banquet last night, she shouldn't be this angry, right?

In the past, when he didn't let her read the script in advance or urged her to go to bed early, she would get angry.

But usually, she would retort on the spot, or make a face at him and say "mind your own business," and then go about her business.

Never before has it been like this.

He remained silent, refused to communicate, and wouldn't even glance at him.

"Because of what happened between me and Saori?"

Ryosuke thought of a possibility, but then felt it was not very reasonable.

Although Ryouna and Hououin Saori's relationship wasn't exactly close, it certainly wasn't bad either.

At most, it's just that I can't handle the other person's aggressive and fiery personality; it's not that I really hate them.

Moreover, would a younger sister get this angry because her older brother is dating?

"I'm probably overthinking it."

He told himself this and quickened his pace, trying to catch up with the people in front of him.

But Ling Nai seemed to have eyes in the back of her head; as soon as he sped up, she sped up too, always maintaining a distance of three or four steps.

"Ling Nai."

He called out.

no respond.

The girl in front continued walking, her ponytail swaying gently in the twilight, her steps never faltering.

"Ling Nai," he called again, this time a little louder.

This time there was a response.

The blonde girl paused for a moment, but only for a moment, before resuming her original pace, even faster than before.

Ryosuke stopped and stood under the streetlight, watching her figure grow smaller and smaller in the distance.

"...This guy."

He sighed and started walking again.

.....

When I got home, Mieko was in the kitchen preparing dinner.

Ling Nai came in carrying a paper bag, bending down to change her shoes quickly and efficiently, without even looking up.

"I'm back," she said, her voice flat and devoid of emotion.

"Welcome back." Mieko poked her head out from the kitchen, her apron still damp, a gentle smile on her face. "How was your trip? Did you have fun?"