“Hey, Sousuke. Do you remember how we actually started talking to each other?”

We were on our way back from the ocean. Shouko spoke while we were still riding on Mashiro’s back. I searched through my memories before answering.

“...It was right after we started our second year, wasn't it? When everyone decided to hold that mixer.”

“That’s the one.”

“Well, neither of us ended up participating in the end.”

The venue was a karaoke box, and Chiyu didn't want to go from the start. My childhood friend has never been fond of singing. I wasn't particularly good at it either, but I figured it would be tactless to turn down the invitation, so I’d planned to attend at least the first part.

“Right. I’m just glad that kid found his key.”

On the way to the karaoke place where the mixer was being held, we found a primary school boy crouching by a hedge with a tearful face. When we called out to him, he told us he’d dropped his house key on the way home. Both his parents were working, and since he couldn't get inside, he’d been searching for the key in a panic until he was at his wit's end. So, I decided to help him look. That was when Shouko joined in to help too.

“It ended up taking until evening, though.”

It’s a common thing with lost items—if you only look at the ground because you 'dropped' it, you never find it. Then you happen to look up and see it hanging from a fence or some other high place. Usually, a kind passerby finds it and puts it somewhere visible so it doesn't get stepped on, but the owner rarely thinks to look there.

“Ever since then, I’ve thought you were... a r-really good guy, Sousuke.”

“I thought you were a really kind gyaru too, Shouko.”

Shouko gave a small laugh, muttering, “What’s that supposed to mean?” before continuing.

“Back then, did you hear what the other kids in our class were saying?”

“Eh? No, I don't really remember.”

“Some reacted with things like 'Oh, poor kid' or 'I dropped mine when I was a brat too,' but most of them didn't even look. Even the ones who reacted switched the topic instantly to 'How much longer until karaoke?' or 'What are we gonna sing?'”

“In this day and age, that might be the normal reaction. Sometimes people who call out to others out of goodwill get treated like creeps.”

After all, this is a generation raised to 'ignore strangers who talk to you.' It’s probably difficult for them to call out to a child in trouble when they grow up, because from the child’s perspective, they realize they are the 'stranger' their past lessons warned them about.

“That’s not it, Sousuke. Everyone just thought it was a 'hassle.' The mixer—where they might figure out their standing in class or which group they’d belong to—was just more important to them.”

“...”

“But you helped him without hesitating. You encouraged the kid, telling him 'We’ll definitely find it,' and you started searching on your knees without even caring if your school uniform got dirty.”

“...I have no intention of becoming a hero, but if someone is in trouble right in front of me, I want to lend a hand. Besides, you helped too, right?”

As I mentioned before, this was the catalyst for us starting to talk.

“Don't you remember? I was a little late to join. I just made it sound like I was blaming the other kids in class, but I wasn't much different. Because... I hesitated for a second.”

“You hesitated?”

“Yeah. I think I was subconsciously trying to read the room. Trying not to ruin the 'everyone having fun' vibe. Even though if helping a kid ruins the mood, it’s a mood that deserves to be ruined.”

“Hmm... isn't it different for everyone? Some people want to put 100% into their 'youthful spring.' I don't expect much from that kind of thing, so I just do what I want to do...”

I said this more out of the itchiness of being praised for something I considered natural rather than trying to defend my classmates.

“A youth where you can be kind to people as a matter of course is definitely better.”

Hearing her say that, I hesitated to deny it any further.

“...So, that’s why you kept talking to me after that?”

Shouko wasn't just a 'gyaru who is nice to otaku,' nor was she just a 'gyaru who is nice to everyone.' She was just a girl who had taken a liking to me because of that incident.

“Yeah. Though I didn't think you’d be such a pervert, Sousuke.”

“Ugh.”

Shouko burst out laughing at my loss for words, then continued in a gentle voice.

“But you were exactly the kind person I thought you were.”

“Shouko...”

“Oh, and also. You know that handkerchief?”

“The handkerchief... the one you used to find me?”

The initial equipment at the time of transfer was presumed to be whatever we were wearing when we went home the day before. The proof was that along with the girls' underwear and my own undershirt, the handkerchief Shouko had borrowed from me that day had come along too. By combining 'my handkerchief' with 'Fenrir’s sense of smell,' Shouko had been able to find me on the first day.

“About that. It wasn't that I forgot to wash it... it was, well, on purpose.”

“Hm? What do you mean?”

“I-I was just happy you lent it to me... and I thought it might give me an excuse to talk to you for a day or two.”

She probably intended to have a conversation like: “Sorry, I forgot to bring back the handkerchief I borrowed,” and “Oh, that? Any time is fine.”

“Even you think about things like that, Shouko?”

“It’s r-really hard to find a reason to talk to a guy you're interested in, you know?!”

Shouko said it sulkily, so I apologized in a hurry.

“No, you're right. I get it.”

“Do you really~?”

It’s nerve-wracking to call out to someone you aren't close with, and the differences in groups or 'ranks' within a class are often hard to jump over. Come to think of it, Shouko had ignored those things many times to strike up a conversation with me. Thinking about that courage now, a lump formed in my throat.

“I really do. When we get back to Earth, I’ll make sure to be the one to call out to you too.”

“...Promise?”

Her voice wavered with anticipation.

“Mochi. Mochi-mochi-no-mochi.”

I tried to mimic the slang Shouko occasionally used.

“Pfft. Ahahaha! Nice, let's make that a trend...!”

I wasn't so sure about that, but well, Shouko was laughing, so I guess it was fine.

Mashiro slowed down, and eventually, our home came into view.

“Thanks, Mashiro. Oh, that’s right—once we get home, I’ll build a Fenrir Hut for you.”

Mashiro let out a happy howl. We hopped over the stone wall and arrived at our base. Waiting for him to sit down, Shouko and I climbed off.

Now then, I wonder if the other three are back yet.