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With Ryōō High’s cultural festival approaching, many of the students, including Yutaka herself, have been busy with preparations. While the festival is an exciting event looked forward to by students, families, and faculty alike, some are painfully reminded that it isn’t all fun and games if you’re responsible for ensuring its success.
Add these preparations on top of studies, club activities, and whatever remnants there are left of a social life outside of school, and it’s easy to see that these are very stressful times for the students.
Yutaka hummed a playful little tune while she carefully cut out designs that were to be used as decorations for her class. She wasn’t exactly sure where she heard the song, probably from an anime Konata had been watching, but it didn’t really matter.
“You seem pretty happy, Yutaka-chan. Well, at least compared to everyone else,” Minami observed.
Looking around the room, it could be seen that while everyone was hard at work, very few had enough excess energy to chat. Their class had been working on their cafe attraction for several days now, but with the festival approaching in less than a week, preparations had kicked into overdrive.
“Oh, sorry!” Yutaka waved her hands back and forth in embarrassment. “I’m just really excited for the cultural festival. In middle school, I would always get sick whenever it came around, so this is the first time I get to help decorate for one.”
Minami couldn’t quite relate to Yutaka’s troubles with her health. However, for someone seemingly as cold and quiet as her, she knew what it felt like to be left out of things. So while she wanted to ask and make sure that Yutaka could handle all this work, she didn’t want to bring down the mood with any more talk about the girl’s health.
“It’s okay,” she said with a soft smile. “I’m glad that you’re having fun.”
Even though Minami had been opening up more to her friend, it was still rare for Yutaka to see her be very expressive. So just seeing a small smile from Minami was enough to give Yutaka a feeling of butterflies.
Yutaka didn’t fully understand why she felt that way. She would have just assumed it was a feeling of pride and joy at her best friend slowly coming out of her shell more. However, Yutaka suddenly remembered a conversation she had at home the night before, and it made her face turn a light shade of pink.
“So, Yu-chan, are you excited for the school cultural festival?” Konata asked while taking a pause from eating dinner.
“Oh, yes, I really can’t wait! It’ll be the first time I get to help with the preparations for one,” Yutaka beamed.
“Oh, that’s right. I guess you didn’t really get a good opportunity to do that sort of thing when you were in junior high.” Konata realized. “What kind of attraction is your class doing, anyway?”
“We’re doing a cafe!” Yutaka responded.
“Wow, talk about cliché. Though there’s nothing really wrong with that. Do you know what you’ll be doing once it’s open? Serving customers, maybe?”
Yutaka shook her head. “I’m not sure yet. But making the decorations has been going really well! Since this is my first time doing this sort of thing, Minami-chan has been helping me out.”
“You know, you and Minami-chan are really close these days,” Konata observed.
“You really think so? I mean, she’s my best friend, but I worry that she might see me as more like a little sister or something. Especially since I depend on her so much.” Yutaka began to look a little sad as she went on. “I just wish I could do half as much for her as she’s done for me.”
“If I didn’t know any better, with the way you talk about Minami-chan, I would have thought you two were a couple.” Konata sported a smug grin on her face.
“What, a couple!?” Yutaka’s face was bright red. “We’re just friends! I mean, it’s true that I really do care about Minami-chan, but-” Yutaka grew too flustered to finish the thought. “Anyhow, I can’t imagine her being interested in someone like me that way,” she concluded.
“Hmm, I wouldn’t be too sure of that,” Konata replied. Yutaka responded with an annoyed expression that could only be read as stop picking on me!
“Don’t worry, I’m just kidding around. I know you and Minami are just friends… Not that there would be anything wrong with you two being more than that.” Konata still had a smug look on her face, clearly not taking the conversation seriously.
As for Yutaka, she was too embarrassed to keep this topic of conversation going and went back to eating her dinner in silence, still blushing from what Konata had said.
Later that night as Yutaka was laying in bed, it felt like her mind was running in circles and wouldn’t stop. Despite her body feeling tired from all the extra time spent at school this week, her thoughts were consuming her and wouldn’t let her drift off into sleep.
Although it was only meant as a joke, Konata’s words had made Yutaka think about her relationship with Minami in a way she never had before.
How do I feel about her? We’re only friends, right?
It’s true that Minami was the closest friend that she’s ever had, and that she’s always enjoyed being around her. But she began thinking back on some of the moments they’ve spent together and was looking at them in a different light. Such as that one time they were at the fireworks show together.
When Yutaka wasn’t feeling well, Minami stayed back and let Yutaka rest her head on her lap as they watched the fireworks together. It was just one of the many moments that made Yutaka really admire how caring and dependable Minami is once you get to know her. Though it wasn’t just admiration she felt thinking back on that moment.
When she laid there with her head in Minami’s lap, she had a feeling of warmth and comfort that she had never felt with anyone else outside her own family. She had wished in that moment that time could remain as still as a serene pool of water, and that nothing, not a ripple, could disturb that peace they shared together.
Yutaka realized she had some pretty strong feelings about that night, and it was clear she cared deeply for Minami, in general. But, love? Being in love wasn’t something that she ever thought much about, especially as it was only till recently that she was more focused on just making friends in the first place.
Is this what it feels like to be in love? She wondered. Do I love Minami-chan?
A long time had passed before Yutaka finally managed to get some sleep, but even then she dreamed of her close friend.
“Yutaka-chan.” She could hear Minami calling out for her. “Yutaka-chan. Yutaka-chan. Yutaka-chan…”
“Yutaka-chan?” Minami had a firm yet gentle grip on Yutaka’s shoulder. “Are you alright?”
Suddenly, Yutaka was brought back into the present and reminded that she was still in the classroom.
“You look a little pale. Are you feeling alright?” Minami asked with a look of concern.
“I’m okay. Sorry about that” Yutaka responded almost mechanically.
Minami was still looking at her, unsure if she should take Yutaka at her word or not. Yutaka’s face already felt especially warm, but once she noticed that Minami’s eyes were still on her, it made her feel even hotter.
Just as Yutaka was looking for any kind of distraction, Hiyori and Patricia walked up to the two of them. “Hey, you two, Patty-chan and I were about to go to the vending machines for a break. Do you want to come with us?” Hiyori asked. “We’re going to get some juice!” Patricia added on.
“Yeah, some juice sounds like a great idea!” Yutaka feigned enthusiasm as she quickly shot up from sitting on the floor. In reality, she just wanted to escape the awkward feeling of being under Minami’s gaze. Normally, she wouldn’t mind, or would even welcome it, but it was too much for her heart to bear right now.
Not long after standing up, however, her head began to feel light and her body heavy. And though at one moment she was looking at Hiyori and Patricia, the next moment everything around her became a blur, then went dark.
Next thing she knew, she was looking up at the lights of the ceiling with Hiyori, Patricia, and Minami’s faces silhouetted by its brightness. It took a moment before she became aware that she was laying down with Minami’s arms holding her upper body up off the floor.
“Are you alright, Kobayakawa-san?” Patricia asked with a frantic tone in her voice.
“Thank goodness for Iwasaki-san’s quick reflexes. She managed to catch you before you hit the ground.” Hiyori looked over at Minami and gave her a quick thumbs-up.
Minami responded with a small nod before turning her attention back to Yutaka. “I’ll take her to the nurse’s office.”
Hiyori imagined Minami carrying Yutaka in her arms like a prince carrying a princess, and she began to blush as she imagined even more romantic scenarios stemming from that one.
But as Hiyori was still in the midst of her delusions, Minami had already picked Yutaka up onto her back and was ready to head out the door.
What the heck is wrong with me? I’m a real freak for thinking about my friends that way! Hiyori thought to herself as she covered her face in shame.
“They look so cute,” Patricia commented as they watched the two girls leave the classroom together.
As Minami walked down the hall carrying Yutaka on her back, she thought it best to not try and start any sort of conversation with the girl. Minami wasn’t the best at one-on-one talks anyways due to her quiet nature, as well as her often struggling to find the right words to say.
However, she didn’t mind her conversations with Yutaka. In fact, they were the main thing she looked forward to when coming to school everyday. Minami didn’t usually contribute much in the form of words, but she always enjoyed listening to her friend’s sweet voice. Just hearing it filled her with a deep feeling of warmth.
Yutaka’s voice, her kindness, even just her presence was enough to give Minami the motivation to keep going when times were tough. It made her want to do anything she could for Yutaka. To be there for her, to protect her. At the moment though, all she could do was quietly carry her friend to the nurse’s office as she didn’t want to make Yutaka talk while she wasn’t feeling well.
Continuing down the hall, Minami directed her attention out the window. Spring had recently arrived and the beautiful view outside was proof of that. The sun’s warmth could be felt through the window, and there was a gentle breeze evident by the slow swaying of tree branches. She also heard a cacophony of bird calls that, while seemingly chaotic, was somehow a familiar and comforting sound.
At that moment, Minami spotted a couple of sparrows perched on top of a nearby tree branch. While a multitude of birds could be heard singing outside, these two appeared to be simply resting and were not contributing to the sound. It looked as if that tree branch was their own little world. One where they could enjoy each other’s presence in companionable silence.
Perhaps she and Yutaka had their own version of that tree branch somewhere, maybe it was even the hallway she was walking in right now. She liked to think that wherever they went together was their tree branch. That the moments they spent with each other were like its own little world shared between the two of them no matter where they were. Minami couldn’t help but smile at the thought.
She was shaken out of her daydreaming by the sound of sobbing directly behind her ear. “I’m sorry, Minami-chan,” Yutaka managed to get out while tears were forming in her eyes. “ I wish I wasn’t always such a burden on you.”
It hurt Minami’s heart that Yutaka felt that way. It’s true that she often supports Yutaka especially at times when it’s a matter of health like this. But Minami never saw her as a burden, not once. If anything she was happy to be able to do something for her friend, and to be by her side.
Minami knew she needed to say something to cheer up her friend, but she was falling back into her habit of overthinking her words, which often led to her being unable to say anything at all. Frustrated with herself at this moment, Minami resigned to saying the first things that came to her mind without filtering words.
“Please don’t think that way. It’s okay if you need help because I like being by your side. Plus, you help me more than you know. So, let’s just keep being there for each other without worrying about anything else, okay?”
Minami wasn’t sure if she was able to convey her feelings the way she wanted to, or if what she said even made sense. However, after just a moment, the sound of sobbing stopped. “Okay,” Yutaka said, just barely louder than a whisper. While hearing that only gave Minami a bit of relief, she couldn’t see the smile that spread across the small girl’s face, still wet with tears.
Upon arriving at the office, they found that nobody, not even the nurse, was there. This didn’t bother Minami as she had had experience working in the nurse’s office and knew she could take care of Yutaka on her own.
She first laid Yutaka down gently on to one of the beds near the window, before going over to get a thermometer from one of the cabinets.
“Looks like you have a fever.” Minami took the thermometer out of Yutaka’s mouth then went to retrieve a towel and some lukewarm water. After placing a damp towel on Yutaka’s forehead, she looked over at the window and had an idea.
“Just a second,” Minami said as she went over and opened the window. The gentle breeze filtered into the room, but Minami made sure it wasn’t opened too wide as to be blowing directly on to Yutaka.
Yutaka looked over as Minami sat back down beside her bed. “Minami-chan, is it okay if you stay here for a little while?”
“Sure.” Minami rested her hand on top of Yutaka’s while looking off to the side, too embarrassed to look directly at her. She focused her gaze on the view outside the window.
Yutaka watched as the wind lazily blew Minami’s short mint green hair back and forth at its ends. She looks like an angel, Yutaka thought to herself.
Perhaps it was due to her fever, but Yutaka was no longer feeling any sort of embarrassment at her thoughts or feelings about Minami. She was simply happy to be there with her in that moment, hand in hand.
“Minami-chan…” Yutaka trailed off before continuing.
“What is it, Yutaka-chan?” Minami looked over at her friend. But Yutaka had been lulled by the serene atmosphere and was already fast asleep.
Minami just smiled and let out a sigh as she continued to watch over Yutaka as she slept. She carefully listened to the sounds of the birds once again, coming in more clearly now that the window was open. A short moment passed before Minami looked down towards her feet as if mentally preparing herself for something.
“I love you, Yutaka.” Her words were spoken in a soft whisper. Quiet enough where only the other girl could hear them, had she not been sleeping. Perhaps another time she would say those words again when her friend was awake. But for now, Minami was simply happy to let out the words that had been on her mind for so long. And she was happy to be together with Yutaka. Together in their own little world.