Always There for You

"I hate to sound like a buzzkill, but are you sure?" He asked upon hearing her suggestion.

"But it's a weekend." She said. Mitora also realized this moment was special for another reason. This was the first time they were together without anyone else interfering. Usually it was Fuwaka, who had admitted to her about her feelings towards Youta. So it did present some level of competition.

Not that Mitora would say there was any contest or anything. It's not like they were both vying for his love…

"What I mean to say is, well, this isn't going to just be something we did when we were kids." He explained. "We're not exactly children anymore."

"Don't worry, I paid attention to you last time." She proclaimed with pride. "So I have the perfect solution to that."

"You do? What would that be?"

"Obviously, you're the one who has to come up with something." Her so-called genius idea was hardly a plan at all. "You're so mature and all, so I figured you'd have an idea of what you want."

"I'd hope I have an idea of what I want." While her solution was lazy, this was the first time he got to be the one taking the lead. Normally she'd be dragging him around to places during their younger years. "I guess we'll just go shopping then."

"Hmm? For what?" She asked, her body filling with anticipation over what his potential purchase could mean. Maybe he'd buy them some more yummy food. Or maybe Youta wanted to get her something cool for them to play with.

"I'm not planning on buying anything." His answer deflated her mood. "Just shopping to look around and stuff. You never know what they might have for sale that you might decide to buy."

"That doesn't sound very exciting…" She bent over at the waist, drooping down her arms and sighed. Mitora only every shopped for essential goods with her family. So to her, it was usually done as a chore or errand rather than for fun.

"You're always free to just go home." He suggested with a mischievous smile. After all, he already knew her response.

"Okay, let's go." She perked up and agreed to his plan. She was the one to say he should come up with an idea. So not it was her turn to try something his way.

They headed out of his house and into the public at large. As it turned out, a spur of the moment shopping trip also meant Youta hadn't the slightest clue on where he wanted to shop at. There were just so many retail stores that it would overwhelm anyone.

However he did settle for one simple shop that sold mostly books and video games. The type of place where the kind of people also known as "otakus" could be seen frequently. Yet when asked, Youta would vehemently deny that he be considered one. As he would say, they were here for completely different reasons.

As he browsed the large selection of reading material, Mitora found herself aimlessly following him with nothing else to do. Reading was too much for her brain to the point she found it no fun at all. There was also the fact that expecting her to sit at one spot for such a purpose was nigh impossible.

"Youta, do you still play these games?" She asked, holding up a copy to show him an example. The one she held would fit under the category of an eroge game, a genre he had never played. However to her, it was a video game so therefore she assumed it was like all the other ones he played.

"Not like those!" He swiped it from her hands and looked around to see if anyone heard and saw her showing the example. "I do, but they're just simple stuff to pass the time when I'm at home." Youta put it back on the shelf, seeing the other options that mainly set themselves as romantic visual novels.

These reminded him of his prior conversation with Fuwaka about Mitora. So much so that he couldn't help but bring it up. "Mitora." He spoke calmly and quietly. "You know, I don't mind if there's any boys you like."

"Huh?" She was blindsided by his words. This was the last thing she'd ever expect him to say in a million years. "Where's this coming from?"

"I already know about your feelings." He said. Her face grew bright red as she immediately tried to make reason of it.

"You do? Well, I mean…" She thought it was over now. There'd be no chance to turn back with him knowing the truth. "So then, how do you…?"

"I saw you writing on the blackboard, back during graduation for junior high."

"You…" She then realized what he actually meant and that it didn't at all match her initial expectations. Mitora calmed herself for a moment, glad she didn't slip up at a bad time. "You saw what I wrote in the classroom?"

"That's right." He breathed a major sigh after telling her the truth after all these years. "And as your best friend, I just want to say that I fully support you the entire way."

"Youta, thanks. That's so nice and all, but-"

"And I'll even help you if you need it." He didn't allow her to finish. "I can talk to him and see how he feels and maybe."

"Youta." She put up her hand, covering his mouth and preventing another word from leaving. "I don't like him anymore."

"You don't?"

"It was just a silly crush, when I look back at it." She giggled. "I don't even know why I liked him in the first place."

"Huh, I didn't even notice." Obviously he never kept a close eye on her relationships during their first year in high school. It would've been clear if she started dating, but it would've also been known if she confessed during that time.

"If you want to know about right now." She said. "There are no boys I like."

"There aren't?" In this moment, Youta had a huge weight lifted from his shoulders. He couldn't even hide his growing smile no matter how hard he tried. "Then, I guess just forget about this conversation."

"Forget about it?" She would not take that so easily. "It's only fair that I ask too." Said Mitora with a pout on her face. "So… Are there any girls you like right now?" To Mitora, it felt like an eternity to hear his response, despite it only taking precisely one second.

"No." He answered quick, concise, and without any hesitation. "Why would I?"

"You don't?" She wasn't sure on how to take the answer. It was one of the better responses she could hear, but one she also didn't expect. "But, I see you with so many people now."

"You don't fall in love with your teammates, do you?" He countered. "If it's about my sports management stuff, I don't even keep in touch with anyone I work with. Other than Fuwaka and I guess Chinemi now." Also for whatever reason, he kept running into Takame. But that was more just pure coincidence than anything else. "If it makes you feel better, I'll let you know if there's anyone."

"Heh, and I will too." She smiled. It was then when they noticed the sun's low angle to Earth begin to become noticeable as the lighting in the store had a much different hue than when they entered.

"It's getting kind of late now. So we should go home." He commented, putting away the books he was browsing. "I still have some homework to take care of and you probably are way behind."

"You're right about that." She agreed, but right as they exited the store, she stopped him. "Can you just wait a moment?"

"For what?"

"I want to watch the sunset for a little bit." She answered. "You know, it's been way too long since the two of us just spent time together alone.

"Huh, I guess you are right." He had no arguments as he stood besides her to watch the sun meet the horizon. Even though they were in public, surrounded by numerous people going about their business. It was as if they were the only ones. "With you always running around, I never took you to be someone to stop and watch the sun set."

"You're not the only one with surprises." She responded and took one glance at him under this light. "Speaking of… Last one home has to make the other one lunch at school!" She yelled, taking off before he even had a chance to react.

"Mitora, that's no fair!" He yelled as she sprinted off. He did his best to try and keep up, but those efforts were clearly futile. At least on the bright side, it was better he lost the race. Getting to eat her lunch sounded more like punishment instead of a reward.