We Spy

Maybe having all of them being here was not such a good idea. After all, they weren't exactly a small group. Trying to blend in wasn't easy, while they were keeping tabs onto what Yogi was doing with this other girl.

"What are they talking about?" Erina asked. They were all hidden in the bushes, while the two they were eating an afternoon snack.

"Shh." Arata shushed her. He needed them to try and stay silent so that he could hear that conversation. "I'll try and listen, then relay what I get, all right." They nodded to his command.

"I'm so glad we get to see each other again." Yuki said.

"Yeah, how long has it been since the last time we saw each other? Six, seven years now?" So Yogi did know her, and apparently from a long time ago too. Arata would've figured that Akiba and Akaki were his only childhood friends, but he must've been wrong about that. "It's too bad that you had to move away." Yogi got up and cleaned up their mess. "Anyway, we should get going so you can see how much has changed since the last time you were here."

"They're moving now, what did they say?" He was asked.

"Well, they're going to see more stuff." He answered. "But more importantly, do either of you remember her? Apparently she used to live here." Arata directed this question towards Akiba and Akaki.

"I thought I knew all of Yogi's friends. I guess I must've missed her somehow." Akaki answered. Obviously, it wasn't like he spent ever hour with that boy. However, it would be strange if he was keeping this girl away from everyone.

"Yeah, he never really mentioned her." Judging from her tone, he could tell that she was a little upset that Yogi supposedly had another girl as a childhood friend. Even if it was more of the 'they separated when they were young' type.

"All right then." He was disappointed with the lack of answers, hopefully this endeavor will prove fruitful then. "We should follow them, but maybe keep ourselves separated."

They did what he said, following Erina's lead they stayed behind this couple. Even though they split up, Arata wasn't really confident in their hiding skills. To anyone, this was just going to look like some weird silly spying that a movie would show as a joke.

"What the hell are we even doing?" Arata asked Misao, who was sitting in front of him at a table about 20 meters from their targets. He would never call himself the stalker or spying type, but even he knew that most people would be aware of their presence.

"I don't know what you're talking about, I think we're blending in pretty well." She replied. Misei was sitting with them feeling concerned about being caught.

"What are you even talking about?" He did not think that this was going to work at all. "You got Akaki and Akiba walking over there with some stroller. Erina and Yuriko are hidden up in some random tree. Then you got us in these weird costumes."

They looked more like pop stars trying to remain inconspicuous. Big hats, with ridiculous sunglasses. If anything, they were garnering attention, instead of staying down low.

"Look, it's a good thing they walked by that store." Misao explained. "Besides, they clearly don't recognize us, or else they would've approached us by now."

"Or maybe, they think we've gone insane, and don't want to talk to us." He retorted.

"Either way, it's working." She concluded. "However, we have more pressing things to talk about."

"Right, you want me to listen in-"

"I mean about you." She cut in. "I don't understand you."

"You don't?" He never considered himself a complicated person, nor someone that would confuse another person.

"I know what she means." Misei agreed with her. "Such as, why are you helping us?" She also noticed his odd behavior, just like the others. However, they weren't currently in a position to ask him about it.

"Yeah, you're not being coerced anymore, so why bother?"

"Oh, that's what you meant." He never thought what he was doing was odd. Though it was probably because it wasn't really that different than what he was doing before. "How should I put it?"

Arata thought about that moment on the bench with Erina. When she asked him if he was going to stay. The thought that was looming, would be the fact that Yogi would still be in a harem through all this. Everyone's actions were going to be based around that boy.

"Let's just say that, I'll be supporting all of you now." Was his answer.

"All of us?" Misei was stunned to hear that.

"Yeah, I'm rooting for all of you." He continued. He did have one person he favored over all of them. However, that was going to remain his secret. "You're all my friends, so I want to try and make at least one of you happy."

"I find that to be an odd decision, but I won't stop you." Technically, Misao could chalk this up to a win for her. Though it would be odd to think of the fact that he was helping and going against her.

"All right, if that's out of the way, then maybe I can listen in on them." Arata thought that's what was going to happen next. He was sadly mistaken.

"Arata? Is that you?" A girl walked up to their table, it was none other than Matsu. "It is you."

"Uh, I don't know who you're talking about." He played dumb. Deepening his voice in an attempt to hide his identity. "I'm just here hanging out with my friends."

"Your acting sucks." Misao whispered to him. He really wished she'd just play along with him right now.

"But aren't you with the school president and vice president right now?" She looked at them confused.

"Okay look." Misei spoke up. "We're just spending some time with each other. Could you please go away?"

"I wouldn't be that frank about it." Arata commented. Even if this was inconvenient, she was still his friend.

"Why should I?" Matsu puffed up her cheeks. "Arata's my friend too." Her attempt to seem intimidating made her look more like a cute puppy, than a dangerous animal.

"It's not about that, we're just busy with something." She countered.

"That's not fair, I can do important things too, you know."

"Hey, maybe we shouldn't-"

"What's going on here?" Arata tried to defuse this situation, but he was too late. Now Yogi was standing here looking at all of them. "Huh? Is that you Misei?"

"Ah! Our cover's been blown." Misao said, shocked.

"Well our cover wasn't that great in the first place." Arata muttered to himself.

Unfortunately, they were caught. Now everyone had to give it up and reveal themselves. Yogi sighed at this sight, while Yuki stood behind him. Clutching his arm with the fear of the idea that all these people were watching them.

"Hey, I remember you." Matsu pointed at the new girl. "You're the transfer student, right?" Matsu moved in closer to her, using her usual cheerful introduction. "I'm Matsu Kusano, it's nice to meet you." She extended a hand, which caused the girl to hide more behind Yogi.

"Maybe you should probably give her some space." Arata pulled her back. "And we're all terribly sorry." He apologized on behalf of everyone.

"Oh it's no problem, I'm used to it." Yogi accepted it. Returning back to his normal self. "But, why exactly were you following us?" He wondered.

"Well, it was just strange that this new girl had all of your attention." Arata explained.

"Yes, don't you think it's strange to us with what you were doing with this girl?" Misao continued. "People will get the wrong idea and begin to think that you're lovers, unless that's the case." She accused. This was something that everyone was thinking, but didn't have the courage to ask.

"What?! That's not true at all." Yogi recoiled back from hearing that. "That's completely crazy."

"Crazy? But, that would be a logical conclusion for some people." Arata thought this was an overreaction from his friend. And he had already seen how he reacts to being teased for having a girlfriend.

"Well you see…" Yogi turned to look at Yuki, who nodded at him. "Yuki's actually my cousin."

"Your cousin?!" They all replied in unison, then they all shared a collective sigh of relief.

"Oh good, they're just related." Arata murmured to himself. "But, why keep that from us?" From the way they were acting, just telling them the truth from the start would've been fine.

"It's because she's self-conscious of a lot of things." Yogi explained to them. "Like how she's half-American… Shoot I didn't mean to say that." He let that slip out, much to Yuki's chagrin.

"Why did you say that?!" She got upset with him. "I-it's true, but please don't treat me like I'm special or anything." She mustered up whatever courage she had to say this to them. Everyone just quietly agreed with her to be nice.

"Sorry Yuki." Yogi apologized. "Please, if you could keep that a secret, then that would be great." They all promised him. Arata was sure this was because they all had their own secrets they were keeping from Yogi. There was also the fact that it wasn't like anyone had any problems with Yuki, well not anymore at least.

"And apologies to you as well." Said Arata. "We should let you two catch back up, so we'll be going now." He ushered the others to leave with his eyes. They didn't disagree, but before he had the chance to go, Yogi stopped him.

"Arata wait, um. Can I ask for a favor?" Yogi was looking at Yuki while asking this question. That sent some red flags to Arata.

"Sure… What do you need?" He asked cautiously.

"Do you think that… You could be Yuki's tutor?"

"What? Why me?"

"Well, I'm not really that smart." Yogi nervously scratched the back of his head. "But you are, and she does need some help. So what do you say?" He looked at Yuki, who had turned her head down, as if to hide her shame.

"I… Guess I could, but only if she wants to." Without saying a word, Yuki nodded her head slowly.

"Awesome, then is this Sunday good for you?"

"Yeah, I can do Sunday." Arata figured that it wouldn't be that bad to study with these two. After all, she was Yogi's cousin, so how different could it be than when he studied with Yogi alone?