Volume 2 Chapter 1: Kouta's Past

Scene 1: Friendship

Friday of the third week of classes arrived, near the end of September, and the first hints of autumn were beginning to be felt. To everyone's surprise, Professor Shinonome fell ill that week, so they weren't burdened with much homework. The Shimizus and the Yoshidas went to a local restaurant called Mao Mao Paradise and ordered Sukiyaki, splitting the cost among the quadruplets. The idea to gather had been Kouta's, but with the secret intention of spending a little time with Himari after school.

After the food was served, Sakura walked into the same restaurant. It was her day off; she spotted the Shimizus and the Yoshidas, walked over to them, and greeted them with a smile: —Hello! I didn't expect to run into my friends here. How are you guys doing?

Daichi, holding his first bite of food, answered warmly: —Hello! We're doing good, thanks. —He asked her with a puzzled look: —What are you going to order, or are you okay with all of us treating you?

Asuka answered the question even though it wasn't directed at her: —No problem on my end. —She turned to her sisters and asked while taking a sip of water: —Do you girls have any problem with it? —Since Himari and Natsuki were already chewing, they shook their heads no, and Suki answered unbothered before taking her first bite: —Of course not! Besides, she's an old friend of theirs, I don't see any issue.

Sakura bowed her head and pressed her hands together: —Arigato Gozaimasu! (Thank you so much!) —They all began eating and discussed school matters, such as the fact that midterm exams were coming up the following week. During one of those conversations, Asuka wiped her mouth after eating and asked Sakura: —Excuse me, Sakura, what does a girl like you do on her day off? Are you still studying, or do you only work at the Karaoke place?

She replied politely: —I work and study. Yesterday I managed to finish my homework, so I'm taking advantage of the day off to go out and enjoy myself. —Then, with a sad tone in her voice, she looked down and added: —It's a shame my friends are always busy and we can't hang out together. Plus, I'm an only child. Even though my parents spoil me, I wanted to see the world and meet new people, which is why I work.

Natsuki felt bad for Sakura and told her: —Don't worry about that! We'll always be here whenever you need us!

Grateful, Sakura replied to Natsuki: —Thank you so much! By the way... what are your names?

Himari replied cheerfully, pointing to each of her sisters including herself: —Hi, I'm Himari, and these are Suki, Asuka, and Natsuki. —Sakura stood up and hugged all of them.

Then, with a bright voice, she looked at them: —Nice to meet you all! I hope we can become good friends soon. —Afterward, in a calm tone, she asked them: —Could you give me a moment alone with the Yoshidas?

Asuka replied: —Sure. —They stepped away from the table for a moment. Sakura made sure they were out of earshot. She then fixed the Yoshidas with a terrifying glare, crossed her arms, and said: —Why wasn't a single one of you scoundrels able to reach back out to me in eight years? You left without saying goodbye... it was so painful.

At that moment, she burst into tears, especially because she had feelings for one of them, and that was what hurt her the most.

Scene 2: Cracks in the Friendship

The Yoshida family fell silent; Daichi merely held his bite of food in place, but Kouta approached to comfort her: —Forgive us, Sakura! It wasn't our intention, we were going through so many changes at that time.

Kouta tried to hug her, but Sakura pushed him hard to make him step back. Then she said to him reproachfully: —Don't come near me, you're the last person who should be close to me, it took effort for me to search for you on Instabook after so long because after I wrote to you, you, of all people! left me on read for over 6 years, until today.

Asuka heard this and said to Suki, surprised: —Did you hear that! Six years and he never replied to Sakura, is it really a good idea for him to keep dating Himari?

Suki was rubbing her hair with her closed fist and said to her: —I didn't like the idea either, but I see Himari so thrilled that she wouldn't even be able to stop seeing him, what we can do is keep a close eye on him. —Asuka paused in thought and then said: —I don't like the idea, but for Himari's sake, I'll accept it.

Meanwhile, Sora said to Kouta: —You have no heart, Kouta, six years and you didn't tell us anything about her contacting you either. —Ren spoke sarcastically: —Classic Kouta.

Daichi approached and said to him: —Don't you see that whatever you do affects all four of us, besides... —Sakura interrupted him and told them clearly: —It's obvious you didn't care at all, you never tried to look for me either, the promise you made me at school was a joke.

Daichi replied consolingly, stepping closer to her: —I tried to look for you, I went to your house three times, whether you believe me or not, it was four years ago, but none of the times I visited was anyone home, I thought you had moved.

Kouta said to everyone: —It's not what it seems. —Sora was surprised by the news and said to Kouta reproachfully: —Yeah, right, seriously, you've gone too far. —Ren seemed unbothered by the situation, remaining seated with his arms crossed, just listening.

Kouta was trying to explain it to them until he raised his voice, clearly upset that they wouldn't let him speak: —It's true, she sent a message, but she wanted a date, she told me she liked me, that she wanted to get to know me better.

She got angry while hiding her feelings, just as she had hidden them in her messages 6 years ago, and said lying: —Of course not!, liar, I never confessed any feelings for you. Kouta told her in a firm voice: —Of course you did!

In reality, she had declared them, but implicitly. Natsuki was listening more closely than her sisters and said to them: —I think we have competition for Himari.