Okay, let's have a look at tomorrow's schedule... We have that meeting in the morning and will head to school in the afternoon.

Haruka and Minori already know that we won't make our morning practice...

(I gave her a lot to think about, but I'm glad she arrived on an answer that she's happy with...)

(Especially since she made me realize something really important...)

Oh, hehe. Right on time...

Hey, what's up?

<Thanks for setting aside some time so we can chat, Airi!>

That's all good. We haven't seen each other at all recently, so I was really happy when you said you wanted to talk.

<Really? Great!>

<Still, you guys really have been busy lately. I'm sure you're handling things fine... But don't push yourself too hard, okay?>

Thanks, I appreciate it.

But as an idol, my physical condition is one of my biggest assets, so I'm making sure to take good care of it.

Actually, Ena, I'm more concerned about you. Are you still a total night owl?

<Huh? Me? I'm completely fine!

I mean, I've always been a night owl.>

<Oh yeah...

Did you hear about the new cafe that opened up by the station?>

A new cafe? What's it supposed to be like?

<Half of it's a cafe, but the other half's supposed to be an antiques shop.>

<Everything in the cafe is also apparently for sale. If you like the decor or the tableware they use, you can just buy the exact same ones on the spot.>

Really...?! This cafe's starting to sound pretty fun.

<I know, right? On top of all that, their signature menu item is this tea and chiffon cake set that's decorated in a really cute way. I bet it'll get a ton of buzz online.>

<Wanna go together sometime?

Maybe this week...? No, that's probably too short notice, huh...?>

Yeah... I have work all this week and next...

<Okay. Yeah, that's understandable.>

<Then, how about next month?>

Well... The weekends are gonna be tough.

I might be able to go in the evening during the week...

But you have school then, right, Ena...?

<Yeah... To be fair, the cafe's new and getting a ton of business, so I doubt it's gonna fold anytime soon.>

True. I'll let you know when I'm free.

<Okay! Looking forward to it!>

(Ena never changes...

She always lets me know about these new places and invites me to go check them out...)

(I mean, there was one point when I was so busy that we didn't see each other for a month or so.)

(Of course, Ena was going through some tough stuff right around that time too...)

(But she still came over to talk so happily when she saw me at school...)

(Seeing her smile made any feeling of awkwardness about our reunion go away...)

(Ena's honest with her feelings. She doesn't hold anything back, in a good way...)

(That must be why we've been able to stay friends this whole time.)

Um, Ena...?

<Hm?>

Remember that time during junior high when we didn't see each other for like a month because we both had so much going on?

<Yeah, I remember...

What about it?>

So...

How do I put this...?

I wanna thank you for coming to talk to me like nothing had changed after not seeing each other for so long...

Your smile made me feel so much better that time.

<Huh? R-Really?

Why...?>

Why...? Because it's pretty normal to not be sure how to interact with someone after not seeing them for so long, right?

<Yeah, I guess so...>

<Talk about a blast from the past...>

<I remember watching TV every single day to make sure I caught all the shows you were on, Airi...>

<And I went back to rewatch recordings of them on the days you weren't scheduled to appear...>

Wait, really?

I remember you sending me feedback on occasion regarding what you saw, so I had a feeling that you were a pretty avid viewer. Still...

<Hehe. Because of that, I got to meet you every day. Your smile would always help me forget about what was on my mind for a little while.>

...!

<Which is probably why talking to you after being away for so long didn't feel awkward at all. It's like you were never gone.>

For the longest time, Ena, I kept beating myself up about not being there for you when you were going through so much pain...

<No, don't say that...>

<You've always been there to cheer me up. Always. You're a big reason why I'm still doing art.>

<So, Airi, thank you for what you did that time...>

H-Hey, no fair...!

What's with the sob story all of a sudden?!

<What?! You started it!>

I didn't have a choice because there's something I need to tell you!

<Tell me...?>

Yeah!

Ena, thanks for being my friend!

<...!>

<Is that all?

Of course I'm your friend.>

(She made it possible for us to pick up where we left off like nothing happened...)

Really, I can't thank you enough.

And about that cafe.

I promise to let you know when there's a gap in my schedule!

<Okay. I'll invite you again if I find anywhere else that looks delicious or interesting, so keep your schedule open!>

Yeah, you got it!