“Ryou, Ryou, are you free today?”

“You must’ve noticed by now I’m free most days.”

“Nice. So wanna go to karaoke?”

“Karaoke? Uh, yeah, sure.”

Now that was unexpected. Fushimi didn’t usually say she wanted to go somewhere after school.

After classes were done and we reached the station closest to our houses, I understood.

There were five students wearing uniforms different from ours right there at the ticket gate. Two girls and three boys.

“Oh, so that’s what’s going on…”

“What is it?” Fushimi turned her head around.

Yeah. She never said it would be just the two of us. I should’ve asked.

It’d be awkward to take it back now that we’re here…

Fushimi joined the five and greeted her old friends from middle school.

“It’s been so long!”

“How’ve you been?”

They’re having so much fun… I can’t rain on their parade now!

I followed her lead and greeted them. I did recognize the three dudes, but they weren’t my friends or anything.

“Hey, it’s like a class reunion here!” one of the girls called, and everyone reacted in kind, while I sighed internally. Externally, though, I agreed with my best fake smile.

I could already guess they’d insisted on bringing Fushimi, and she hadn’t had it in her to turn them down. She didn’t seem the type to enjoy karaoke.

We headed to the place right next to the station, and they bombarded Fushimi with questions on our way there. How school was going, whether she’d joined any clubs, whether she had a boyfriend, etc. She responded with her faux princess smile.

Our marching formation was three-three-one. Fushimi was at the center of the front line, while I was the one at the back.

We entered the building, set the time we’d spend there at the desk, and were guided to our room.

Fushimi called to me, a faint smile on her face. “Ryou, can you even sing?”

“Oh, please. I come here all the time with Mana.”

“Really? Wow.”

…“All the time” in reality meant “a couple of times a year.”

“How about you?”

“I’m…pretty average.”

Average, eh? That could mean anything. She seems quite confident, though.

We poured our drinks at the soda fountain before entering the room, then picked our songs one by one.

Everyone picked popular recent songs or idol songs everybody knew, pumping up each singer in turn by clapping or shaking maracas.

“What’re you singing, Ryou?” Fushimi, forgetting all about her princessly act, peeked at the tablet in my hands while I was choosing.

“Bubby, let me teach you about my hidden special move.”

“Uh, are we still talking about karaoke?”

“You can never go wrong with anime songs. Just choose one you used to watch if you’re with people your age. You’ll have them in the palm of your hand!”

“How can you always be so right…?”

“Make sure to choose one that shows animation. It’ll get everyone excited, and their attention will be on the screen instead of your singing. And if someone starts singing even without a mic, give them one.”

“I am so fortunate to be able to bask in your wisdom…”

Heh. Finally, the time to put Mana’s theory to the test had arrived.

“Oh, you’ll see.” I chose the song without letting Fushimi see. The title showed on the screen, but no one realized what it was.

Fushimi’s turn came before mine.

I didn’t recognize it from the title, but I got it as soon as the intro started: It was a ballad from a certain singer-songwriter who’d become popular the previous year.

I could tell everyone was listening attentively. Her voice was powerful yet pleasant; you’d hardly guess she could sing like this from her normal speaking tone.

I listened carefully in silence, too.

Once she finished, she said, “Your turn, Ryou,” then gave me the mic.

“…Y-yeah…”

“Hina, you’re so good!”

“Fushimi, that was badass!”

The others flooded her with praise.

Yeah, it was so good you’d think she’s taking classes or something. Color me surprised.

But…now I don’t want to sing. Aghhh!

You should’ve told me you’d choose a song like that, man! I’m supposed to follow a soft ballad with an anime song?!

Sorry, guys, hope you enjoyed the mood while it lasted.

God… I shouldn’t have rushed to take Mana’s advice…

I checked that the mic was on and cleared my throat.

My worry ended up being for nothing. All the guys reached max hype levels the second the animation started playing; anime songs resonated much more deeply with them than girly romantic ballads, it seemed.

The girls only went “Oh, I know that one,” but the boys’ excitement was enough to prove Mana’s theory right.

Thanks to the hype factor, nobody paid attention to my not-bad, not-good singing. Nice, nice.

We did a couple more rounds, until two of the girls stood up to go to the restroom.

We took that as a break, so I grabbed my now empty cup and headed for the soda fountain.

“You’re not bad at all, Ryou,” Fushimi said with a smile, following me.

“Nothing special either, though.”

“Sorry for not telling you about who else was coming.”

“It’s fine. It’s also my fault for not asking.”

I was anxious at first, but my efforts picking the song were rewarded by the boys’ excitement.

“Hina’s so good at singing, don’t you think?” I heard one of the girls say from the corner of the hall, near the restroom.

“But why did she bring Takamori? We’re not three and three anymore.”

“She said she wouldn’t come otherwise.”

“I see… Gotta say, though, picking anime songs was a terrible choice.”

“Yeah, like, get a clue, man.”

“Ah-ha-ha,” they giggled together.

The smile faded away from Fushimi’s face.

Ah, well, now I know what being the target of murderous rage feels like. She certainly seems poised to kill.

She took a step toward the hallway, so I immediately grabbed her arm.

“Don’t mind them. It’s fine. I’m sure they weren’t trying to be mean… Hey, c’mere!”

She wrenched her arm out of my grip, then stomped her way to the corner.

“Oh, Hina…”

“Are there any rules about picking songs in karaoke or something?”

I could tell just from her voice how furious she was.

What about your princess act…?

“Huh? You’re scaring me. What’s wrong?”

“The boys had a good time with it, right? Ryou doesn’t need to get a clue—he’s doing it on purpose.”

The girls didn’t have a reply for that.

“…Sorry. I’m going home,” Fushimi snapped, her face still twisted in anger. “Ryou, let’s go.”

“We still have time left, y’know?”

“I don’t care anymore.”

“Well, I guess the princess has to follow her whims.”

It didn’t seem as if anything would convince her to stay, so I didn’t try.

Fushimi gave our part of the bill to the boys still in the room, then we grabbed our bags and left. I tried paying her, but she wouldn’t take it.

As stubborn as ever, eh? And now she’s walking faster than usual. She never changes.

“I told you, they weren’t trying to be mean. They’re just playing around…”

“Still, that’s not okay.” She was still angry; her pout was the pout to end all pouts. “Sorry… I thought we’d have some fun since we used to be classmates, but that was the opposite of what I’d hoped.”

“Don’t be. I had fun singing and listening.”

“Really? I’m glad, then.”

“You should’ve left them alone. There was no need to get in an argument for me…”

“I wanted to. You did the same thing for me when they were talking behind my back, remember?”

“Yeah, but it doesn’t matter who I get in a fight with. No one cares about me either way.”

“That’s not true. Why do you put yourself down like that?”

Why? I don’t know.

My old friend stared at me the whole way home.

“…Y’know, you are cool, Ryou.”

“Please don’t say that to my face.”

No one had ever told me that; I didn’t know how to react.

“Well, I guess I’m the only one who needs to know. Hee-hee,” she said, giggling. Her expressions really were all over the place.

“Let’s go just the two of us next time.”

“That’d be fine, I guess.”

“Yes!”

Fushimi cheered up as we approached her house.