(I'm glad I was able to finish putting together our training schedules.)

(I was even able to come up with individualized plans for Tenma, Shinonome and myself, since the stages we'll each be doing are all different.)

I couldn't have done this without MEIKO's help...

(But we don't have much time, so these schedules are pretty intense.)

(I don't even know if Tenma and Shinonome will agree to do this...)

(Oh, that reminds me...)

Hey, An? Sorry, I know it's late.

<That's totally fine. Anyway, what's up?

You usually message me instead of calling like this.>

I wanted to ask you something.

I'm going to be competing in an event called “Shinobi Battle” with Tenma and Shinonome...

<Yeah, I heard!

Akito sounded super stoked. “If we're in it, we're in it to win it!”>

I see...

I actually just came up with some training schedules that I think will help us win.

But I'd like to hear your opinion, since I feel that I may be asking too much of them.

<Wait, you want my advice?

I don't really know a lot about this kind of stuff...>

But you're friends with both Tenma and Shinonome, right? I was hoping you could tell me more about how they train on a daily basis.

<Oh, okay!

I should be able to help you there!>

In that case, I'll send over what I made now. If you don't mind taking a look at it...

<No, wait!

Do we have to talk about this now?>

Huh? No, not necessarily...

Are you busy right now?

<No, I just thought that we could chat in person!>

<Are you free tomorrow after school?

If you are, wanna come over to the cafe?>

(I'm having that meeting with Minori and the others to discuss how we're going to do our Shinobi Battle stream. But I should be free afterwards...)

I'm meeting with the other to discuss a stream, but I should be able to head over once it's done. Would that be okay?

<Okay! Then, we'll meet at the cafe once your meeting's finished!>

Alright, sounds good.

Hello.

Welcome! Table for one?

No, I'm meeting a friend.

She should be here already...

Yes, she arrived here a little while ago, and got some cleaning in to boot.

Hehe.

Haha.

Here's some tea.

Sorry, this is sorta all we have, since we're closed right now.

That's okay. I'll gladly have this.

Mmm... This is nice...

I'd heard the cafe would be closing for a while, but it doesn't really feel like it's been closed up.

Yeah. We've still been using it, just as a training space.

Speaking of which...

I took a look at the training schedules you sent over.

What did you think?

They look really intense!

I totally get why you wanted to hear my opinion.

Yeah, I had a feeling...

But they should work just fine!

Huh...?

Lemme start with Akito. He trains the hardest out of everyone on our team, so he's as tough as nails!

If anything, he's the type who gets excited whenever he's faced with a difficult challenge!

I see...

As for Tenma... One of my classmates does shows with him, and she's told me a lot about him!

He's apparently been training really hard lately too.

She said he can climb, or run, up walls or something now? Anyway, I don't think you have to worry about either of them.

Okay...

I guess I got a little ahead of myself.

(I mean, those two were training that day in order to make their dreams come true, after all.)

Sorry for making you gather all this information for me, An.

That's okay.

All I really had to do was ask a friend in class.

If anything, I think it's good that you're being so careful and considerate about all this, Haruka.

Still, this is Akito and Tenma we're talking about. You really don't need to hold back for those two.

I know you're all friends, An, but I'm not sure you're allowed to say that.

Heehee.

(You're always like this...)

(But I'm glad I asked you about this.)

(Thank you so much, An.)