On the same Monday.

‹Rin›

I think it already goes without saying that the four of us, Chiba-chan included, have become very great friends ever since beginning our studies here in CCI. You know, I have a very bad misconception of college when I just started here. I actually thought that college students don't really have close relationships, so of course, I was very anxious being the usual introverted me. But it is a misconception in the end.

Truly, college seems like I was standing on the starting line again as if everything was reset. I really barely know students apart from the ones in my usual lecture. And what do you know, I made a very social mistake. I realized that I really can't stay on my shell for my entire life. I should have taken the initiative to greet and get to know other people, instead of them approaching me. It leaves an impression, whatever it could be.

But in the end, I am rather happy that I now came to a point where I can exchange jokes with the people that I usually see everyday. Still, our circle of four has remained unchanged, but not constant. Some people might tag with us, and it is no biggie. But then I came to a funny realization that we sort of appeared like how Gin and the other guys were when they were still on their own in Blue Ink.

This is a culinary institute, and I reckon that it is so much better to eat meals in the campus. It is socially healthy, and I can exchange food with other people because cooking is almost anything that we talk about.

"How much do you have now, Rena…?"

"Nine! I have the most!"

"Aaaagggghhh…! It's because of your looks that you get so many tickets!"

"Hey, that's rude, Kae! These are hard earned!"

"What do you mean I'm rude?! I'm complimenting you, you know?!"

Well, would you look at that, we were seen arguing on the computer lab again after comparing how many tickets we have.

There normally aren't many people in this school that accumulates more than five tickets because they are soooo used to enter the kitchens. But it turns out that we are some unconventional bunch. I for one have only used two tickets.

So a little bit of explanation, the common trend is that the tickets are mostly used for learning purposes or trying out the techniques the students learned and apply them immediately. After all, we are kinesthetic people in this institute.

My purpose of coming in those two times weren't because of that though. Why in the flying apples, you ask? The first time I came to the kitchen is because I watched a YouCube video of making pickles. But since I didn't have the ingredients at home, I did it here. And for the second time… I took my pickle jar from the fridge a month later and left immediately…

Hahaha. I'm a diligent student.

For the reason for my utterly unconventional entrances, whenever I have difficulties with our lectures, I can find help from the three of my friends because they have their own styles and specializations. Rena's reasons are to hone her home cooking and make it something that she can serve to others; Chiba-chan and mine is, weirdly enough, to understand the fundamentals and scientific reasonings to various ways of cooking even if I didn't particularly like science in high school; while Kae is striving to inherit their family diner and expand their business later on.

Because of that, we picked up on many things and support each other for what we lack. And Chiba-chan can absolutely obliterate me when it comes to studying.

"Do you guys brought lunch with you?"

"Nope."

"Let's use one to make them then? Any objection?"

"Nooooone!"

~ ~ ~

"Ah, that's right, Chiba-chan, do you have plans for the Cotona Week?"

"No, not really?"

"Want to come with us for Blue Ink's Open Event, then?"

"Ooohhhh, I didn't get the chance to come last year because I haven't moved by then. How was it last year?"

"We had a blast!" we exclaimed in one voice.

"And we blew some people's minds!" I then added.

"If anything, it's probably Ringo that loves the Open Event the most among us. She was on a roll waitering and cooking!"

"It was tiring!"

"You really should come for food, Chiba! Regardless of departments, almost everything that the classes have is food.

Ahhhh, I hope that the smashed burgers will still be there," Kae drooled.

"Smashed burgers… I'll come then! Where should we meet up?" our Chiba-chan was easily lured with food.

"On my place then, since I'm the closest!"

"Can you come with the two of them, Kae?" Rena suddenly requested, "I'll be going to Blue Ink on my own. I have something to show anyway?"

"R-Rena…?"

"It's fine, Ringo."

"…

T-That's decided then. Our house is quite easy to find so that's not a problem, Chiba-chan."

"Eeehhh, so you'll get to meet Ringo's boyfriend, Chiba~"

"Y-Y-You have a… Ringo?!"

"…? Oh. I guess I didn't tell you."

"Whaaaaaaat?!"

"Hey, don't get so surprised!"

▪ ▪ ▪

Hello, Wednesday.

«Out of the four friends, Chiba has become known for being the person that never gets late may it be in the college or outside excursion. She is someone that gets somewhat excited on things that she arrives on the meeting place thirty or so minutes whenever they went out.

And today was not anything different. She left her place 40 minutes ahead of their meeting schedule, but a problem has arisen. It is not very common in Orio to have houses with a house plate or other means of identification apart from house numbers. The only landmark that Chiba had was that Rin's house "is near the intersection" where White and Cerulean Street are perpendicularly situated.

One thing however is that she knows that Rin's house is on the right side of the street if facing the way towards the highway.»

"This should be the place, right…?"

«Her eyes fixed on the house that is literally on the corner between the two streets. Thus, she rang the doorbell.»

"M-May I know who they are?" Gin opened.

"U-Uhhh. My name's Chiba and I'm looking for Ringo. Are you his brother by any chance?"

PFFT…! Ahahahahahahahahahahahaha…!! Am I now seriously being called her brother?! wwwwwwwww

«Uh, hello, Gin here, borrowing Narrator's mic. As you can see, Kuro, or I guess technically I am laughing my life out right now. I am already so aware that Rin and I, on some people, don't look like we are partners. Then there is that time when I disguised as her cousin since I can't attend my graduation in my fourth year. And now… I was called her brother… We're reaching high levels of misunderstandings now!»

"Please come in.

Hey, Rin~ You have a visitor."

"Eh?"

…

What in the flying apples is going on right now.

My legs are asleep under the kotatsu, and I can't stand up. If Potato finds this out, he will definitely poke my feet until I reach a certain death, well, figuratively.

But unimportant concerns aside, why in the Gin's house is Chiba-chan doing here in Gin's house?! Oh, that sounded confusing, didn't it? I don't think it's worth the "what in the world," so that.

"Good morning, Ringo."

"D-Did you troll someone again, Potato…?"

"Huh, I haven't even said anything literally…"

"Let alone answer her question."

"…and it's probably your fault that she went here, you know."

"I-I guess…" now I kinda felt bad.

"Anyway, so you were that Chiba-chan, huh. Rin here tells me about you a lot.

Welcome to my house. My name's Gin Sakato," and he just went and shook Chiba-chan's hands.

Why is it that every guest in this place gets so confused on the first time they come here?

Ah, there it is—the stereotypically late reaction of everyone. This time, Chiba-chan is losing her speech, and her eyes are widening while trembling on the sight of Gin as if he was some kind of a some-kind.

"Hey Potato, speak up otherwise this might turn to another misunderstanding…!"

I shouted since I still can't get up…!!

"I think the misunderstandings will keep piling up so… she might have told you at some point, but I'm her boyfriend."

Chiba-chan turned into a jackhammer…!!!!!

"S-S-Sous chef… Boyf-friend… Ringo… House… Sakato… S-S-Surname… N-Nice kitchen… G-Glaring cat… Boyfriend looks normal…"

"Hey…! The last one kinda hurt! Anyway, snap out of it. I know where this is going, but she lives next door with her parents, alright?

Y-You need some water…? I might see smoke coming out of your head any time soon…"

"W-W-Wait a sec, Chiba-chan…! I'll just take a quick shower and I'll come back!"

I can finally stand…!

"And there she goes climbing my stairs. To think that she was the most worried about misunderstandings."

"Potato! Borrow! First floor!" I ran to his guest bathroom after getting clothes.

"So you're using my bathroom anyways…?!"

…

"I'm so sorry about this slapstick, Chiba. You can go in the kotatsu if you want. It's cold out there. I'll make you some tea."

"Ah… thank you."

"Waaaarrrrmmmmmm…"

"The cat's name is Haku. He has a natural glare, but he wants to be friends with you."

"Meow. (Are you here to challenge Ringo-ojou?)"

"She isn't. We're going to the Open Event so keep watch of the house."

"Meeoow. (Yes, I don't want to go out since it's cold.)"

«The misunderstandings may have been cleared up(?), but the confusion kept piling up on Chiba.»

~ ~ ~

Six pages have already been wasted and we're still not in Blue Ink. Cool. But since Chiba-chan came so early as she has always done even before this, we had to wait for a few more minutes for Kae to arrive—and she actually went on the right place.

With that, Gin has clinched another invitation to a friend. I really do think that inviting people for meals has become a character of Gin even if he wasn't aware of it. It however isn't a bad thing at all.

So finally, we started to walk towards our beloved school.

"Oh, hey. Nothing really has changed."

"Of course Rin. Wait, have you been here since the school year started?"

"Nah… CCI was like a large wave that immediately hit me even when I was on the shore."

"Well, I'll catch up on you girls later. I have to check if our plants are still alive."

"'Kay, what do you want to eat?"

"Just grab me something you see from the stalls as long as it's edible, thanks."

Then asked Kae, "Oh, right, Chiba. Where did you do your WT?"

"Uhh… it was on the business department of a car company. I actually took ABM on high school. I remember, this school has more specific courses, right?"

"Yuuup. The whole time in WT, Gin was our boss. And then he fired me from the kitchen…"

"That happened…?"

"Better not be told, Chiba-chan… It was an embarrassing story."

"Alright… So, where can we find the smashed burgers?"

"…So you're still hung up on that, huh. Let's wait for Rena fir- Oh, speaking of."

On that note, we all saw Rena and a certain man that we three know with a child sitting on his shoulders.

"Yoru~! You've gotten so big already…!"

I unhesitatingly ran and greeted the child that has grown more only after a few months of not seeing him. I admitted that it may have been a little insensitive on my side as I sort of forgot even for a moment what face could the two be making right now after seeing all of this.

"Good morning, Kae, Chiba."

"Ah… Aahhhh. Good morning, Rena," Kae fumbled with the surprise hardly hidden from her expression.

It did seem that they caught on quite quickly.

"I'm sorry for not telling you two about this. I am actually married to Koba… and our son's name is Yoru."

"This isn't CCI right now, so you don't need to address me as an instructor. Though, I think that it might not be the important thing right now. We do understand why you are surprised."

"N-N-No, it's fine… B-But we're really shocked right now…"

"We're sorry about that."

Finally, I mediated, "You know… this awkward air will eventually go away after a grub."

"I guess…"

Meanwhile, on Gin's side…

«He lied.

Or rather, he just took a detour. After watering the forgotten plants in the new building's rooftop, disappointed at that, he went down the stairs normally and headed to the second floor to where they were rooming at. He is an elder brother in the end, and so he checked what the S2BM is doing for this year while checking up on his little sister on the next room at the same time, for reasons revealed two chapters ago.

And just to make sure, he also knocked on the principal office's door to check on the other half of his concern. A sigh has been released after confirming that nothing significant has happened. But on a more positive note, Tenth revealed his meeting with his fellow, Hātori Nishina.

And back to Rin's side…»

Sometimes, times like when you have a "pulled pork twinkie" shoved in your mouth is when you realize some things. Amidst the beautifully barbecue-seasoned meat, it felt like I was missing something.

"Am I forgetting something…?"

▪ ▪ ▪

It doesn't really seem very apparent that we are spending a lot of our first time as a guest in the Open Event, but in the matter of two days… I stepped on the bathroom scale last night and found out that I gained more than a kilo. A (bunkasai) is scary. However! I have proudly decided that I will just shed them away tomorrow as it is a weekend.

Whatever! I am most likely going to gain another kilogram! But on that note, I shall ask my fitness teacher, Rena-sensei, for advice again.

But finally having explored this year's entire Open Event literally, the only thing that is left for Potato and I is to visit our once second home. But since this is the last day, we have expected that the whole gang of alumni is with us in this; and Mina included.

"Well, hey, nothing much has changed, huh."

It seems that the new Art Club has caught wind of the former members' thinking that only selling art pieces is obviously boring; or that Ms. Sora, who is someone with objectively a great entrepreneurial mind formulated strategies to bring even more color to this club. And at times like this, indeed, food is the greatest option.

And on that topic, it appears that they are flourishing on their own ways, especially with the help of the strong duo of the club. There is one who is utilizing her talents to its full potential while there is another that restricts himself, yet his talents come up like a spring.

Apparently, Ms. Sora was happy that she has something that outshines Aomine upon transferring departments; which is obviously in visual arts. But now that we are seeing them working hand in hand on making traditional Orion sweets, it looks so much like they are on equal footing, but more importantly, enjoying themselves.

I have heard, surprisingly not from G that Ms. Sora actually has eyes for Aomine even until now, but apparently, she was turned down after confessing. If I were to guess, the possible root of the reason of the rejection could be their incompatibility. But it has been only a few months since then, but things are looking quite different from what I expected between them.

It seems that there is an improvement on their relationship, even if it is not regarding concerns of affection. But indeed, Ms. Sora was very different from the first time I saw her. Seeing her today and on that dinner gathering made me think how much of an amazing person she is, and that she puts her abilities to what we view as the right places.

…

I'm sorry, I was sidetracked by those two. As much as my gut tells me to ship them, it is not the matter of emphasis right now. Focus, Rin, we are inside the Art Room we last used not even a year ago.

Indeed, nothing much has changed. It's quite amazing that everything—literally everything, every material—is still in the same place. It is evident that there is less effort that has been placed compared to last year, but that "less effort" still extends beyond adequacy.

Rather rudely while the current club is running their services, we checked the drawers of the long tables that have not changed and I still found things that I thought I had lost. On the other hand, Potato was weirdly looking on the underside of a table as if he was checking something and exclaimed:

"Of course there can only be one authentic copy!"

While I don't know and don't care about it, my eyes landed on Gin's third year piece, still framed as the center of the room. After not being able to see it for a while, it had looked somewhat outdated considering how much he and all of us have significantly improved in our medium of choice.

"Hey~~ Don't you guys go rummaging around this place. This is not our clubroom anymore," Potato reminded but was answered by a retort.

"Says the one who is scarily looking under the tables," from Nacchi.

And rather quickly, we somehow dispersed on our own after taking a look at the Art Room while we stayed with G notwithstanding.

Since G is pretty much the senpai that Aomine sees, he has finally introduced the new members to us. We found out that Sans Corik's nephew is studying here, and that the club managed to fish another to go past the member limit. The other two were Obi, which Gin has taken interest because of his name; and there is also another female member in the name of Reina Nijisaki from S2CA. It's not everyday that I see another girl with the same height and… well… I'm a little conscious that I am a little bit on the taller side of girls in my age, at least in this country. In addition to that, she has a chest-length brown hair that looks so pretty when tied, big round eyes, and a subtle but beaming smile.

"Waaahhhh, can't help it, you're so cute…!!"

"W-Wha…?!"

"Give our kouhai a break and don't hug them so suddenly!"

…

"Ahhhh, I immediately hit it off with Reina-chan…"

"To me, it looks like you forced her to be friends with you. That's mean, you know."

"Not. At. All! You said yourself that introverts are birds of a feather!

Anyway, what count will that kontin shoved in your mouth be?"

"Eivd," he responded and swallowed, "I'll have an appointment on the toilet later."

※ Kontin is an Orion variant of rice cake in which the club is selling.

"Well, it feels like I have been opened to a vast world of kontins… This is the best I've eaten by far."

"K."

Then the topic diverted, "Yui's not going, G?"

"She said she'll be here at 3. I still have some time."

"How are you two these days anyway?" I had to ask.

"Same old. It's actually refreshing that our relationship hasn't really progressed much. If anything, we're still not there."

"Without a 'yet?'" asked Potato.

"I do hope."

"I don't get G's thinking, Potato…"

"Just leave him be."

~ ~ ~

Instead of purple, it was a bluer twilight. Now that we were standing in the middle of the open grounds, waiting for what is to come, all the lights across the school shut off all at once as though a blackout has happened and shocked the crowd. But then, a surprise, even to those who have expected what is coming next, has emerged.

In the midst of the dark, a sound of a single violin reverberated throughout the school, and the lanterns, instead of turning on in a flick, gradually illuminated in the rhythm of the music… until an orchestra of strings sounded, played, and led the ever-changing hue and luminance that follow to the notes, to the emotion of the music.

In the end of our second Open Event…

Tenth has once again made us dance to the tune of the function, not knowing that something more is going to emerge.