âOnee-chan gave me her movie ticket, so how about we go together?â
The following day, Koharu invited the movie loving Aoi, she happily responded, âLetâs go! Letâs go! What movie?â
Koharu has been feeling melancholic these days, but she is still happy to be able to go out with Aoi.
She was also expecting her to refuse because she usually wants to see Sara on her days off, so she was thrilled to hear a good reply.
âHow about this one. It will be released this Friday, and it looks like it will be popular.â
She said that and showed tickets bought in advance. Aoiâs big smile began to solidify. She then slowly apologized with her eyebrows and Aoi scratched her cheek. Awkwardly saying âAh- . . .â
âIâm sorry, but I promised to see that movie with Sara on Sunday. Iâve already reserved the seats online. Iâm sorry, but youâll have to invite somebody else.â
â. . .I see.â
â  â Sara Fujioka again!
For the first time in a long time, she thought she could finally go out and play with Aoi.
She knows that it couldnât be helped because it was already planned in advance, but her feelings right now are much stronger than logic.
She couldnât control her resentment.
Not only did she not get the coveted lover seat, and now Sara was eroding her place as a friend. She began to feel impatient.
Unfortunately, Aoiâs words to go meet each other, didnât reach Koharu. Even if she gave an oral promise, she wonders if she will meet Sara, her feelings just told her she wanted to run away.
âI want to introduce Koharu to Sara-chan someday. She is a very wonderful girl in both appearance and personality.â
Aoi fell into her love talk as usual without noticing Koharuâs feelings.
Aoi quickly gets along with everyone, but she has never been so crazy about anybody in the past. At Least Koharu can be sure of it from their memories together. She wonders what kind of girl Sara Fujioka is. Somebody who fascinated not only her sisterâs boyfriend, but also Aoi. What kind of face should she have when they meet?
She doesnât want to meet her, but the scene of Aoi with her love will be brought to her someday.
Before that happens, sheâd like if she could gain more information about Sara. With this in mind, she casually asked her brothers and sisters friends in Tsubakigaoka without telling Aoi. She heard the rumors surprisingly quickly.
They say she is a beautiful girl that turns everyoneâs heads around her.
They say she is a person of few words and unfriendly.
They say she dated several boys during summer vacation, but broke up with all of them in a short period of time.
They say she does compensated dating.
She is a celebrity in Tsubakigaoka, and although she doesnât know if itâs true, those are the four rumors that are most popular.
Koharu was a little confused, because it was too different from all the things she heard from Aoi. âA very wonderful girl in both appearance and personality.â Although the reason why came quickly. Love is said to be blind. It was clear, Aoi was looking at Sara through the thick filter of romance, and ignoring the many opinions of the majority of people.
âAoi-chan is being deceived. . .â
She thought that Aoi needed to get away from Sara right away, but if she talked to Aoi about the rumors, wouldnât she say âSara isnât that kind of girl.â She is more likely to be stubborn. She knew Aoi had that kind of personality.
That doesnât mean she canât do anything about it. She just wondered what to do about it.
âThatâs right, I have to see her in person.â
This Sunday theyâre going to see a movie, so itâs possible to ambush and spy on them. She could ask Aoi when she is watching the movie. Aoi canât help but talk about Sara non stop these days, so if she asks about her date plan sheâll tell her everything about it. If Sara is like that rumored person, she has to pull her away from Aoi. Instead of her feelings of hatred for Sara, she now has a strong sense of justice, to protect Aoi.
Afternoon on Sunday, Koharu waited for Aoi and Sara at the corner of the cinema complex. 20 minutes in, In plain clothes to blend into the background, hiding behind a bunch of souvenirs, those two appeared before.
â- â -Waaah.â
She soon noticed Sara next to Aoi. And instantly understood what her sister and Aoi meant. Sara Fujioka is as ridiculously beautiful as the rumors said. She was so beautiful that she couldnât help but shriek in admiration despite being her hated love rival.
She was so gorgeous that people passing by would look and double check her. Aoi would speak innocently and Sara would react with blunt short words, only highlighting her coolness. The contrast between Aoi in her pure white knit, and Sara with a black shirt showed it more.
That is Sara Fujioka.
An evil girl who has exceptional beauty and excellence. She has led on a number of men and is now just playing with Aoi. If she had all that, she could do whatever she wanted, life would be fun.- â -Thatâs what she thought. However, despite that, her impression after seeing her was completely different.
âShe looks bored. . .â
Itâs ridiculous for somebody who gets whatever they want, be recognized, and cherished but still not be happy. Itâs unacceptable.
Even when Aoi talks to her, acts spoils towards her, and links their arms putting her head on her shoulder, despite seeing her pure love still trying to move out with a troubled look. Gradually it made her more frustrated.
What does she see in her? Of course she worships Saraâs appearance, but she wasnât as she imagined. She imagined new lovers would have more happy feelings around them, but between them- â -You canât feel it from Sara Fujioka.
It doesnât matter if itâs in front of the public, thatâs not at all what it is. It seems that only Aoi is in love. It makes sense, as Aoi is just a play thing for Sara? She leads on men, why couldnât she get a little curious and try it with some women? She didnât want to see Aoi happily wagging her tail, selling her charm to a disinterested woman.
As she was staring at them with perplexed feelings, Aoi left, probably to go to the restroom before the movie. Only Sara remained sitting on a sofa in the lobby.
Koharu was watching from a distance, and after Aoi disappeared, Sara stared at her right arm. The area Aoi had entwined with her own a while ago. Her beautifully shaped eyebrows frowning. She wondered what was wrong, but the next moment Koharuâs body shook with anger.
The arm the Aoi was just leaning up again, Sara hit it as if something dirty was on it. She relentlessly did it many times.
Koharu didnât mean to call out to her when she came. Rather she just intended to hide and let them pass, but she couldnât stand it anymore. Plus she felt crazy as she didnât know what Sara was going to do to Aoi. Koharu was sucked into it, and approached.
âFujioka Sara-san.â
After calling her out, her delicate shoulders jumped up. She looked back at her suspiciously, up close her face was so well organized that it made her angry looking at her.
âNice to meet you. I am Koharu Wakashima. Aoi-chanâs childhood friend. Iâve heard from Aoi-chan about your guyâs relationship.â
âEh? Ah, yeah, nice to meet you.â
It irked her that not only her face but also her voice is beautiful. It was cuter than she expected.
Did Aoi not even talk about her? She still held a suspicious look.
âYou donât like Aoi-chan, why are you dating her?â
Immediately after saying that, Saraâs eyes went wide. She refelecitly tried to dismiss it, but the strong gaze and confident words from Koharu silenced her. And after a bit of hesitation, she replied. âIs it that easy to see?â
âAs I thought. . .â
âAh, but.â
âIf youâre not serious, then donât go out with her. Donât hurt Aoi-chan!â
Sara seemed like she wanted to say something, but she admitted that she didnât like her, thatâs all Koharu needed to hear. She has to finish this talk before Aoi comes back, so she doesnât have time to discuss more. She didnât feel it was necessary.
âThatâs all we have to say. . . So Iâm begging you to break up quickly.â
If you donât like her it should be fine? She said it with the intention of pushing that, but surprisingly Sara kept silent with a sad expression.
Sara raised her face as if she had decided on something.
âSorry, but thatâs impossible.â
âWhy!?â
âThat doesnât concern you.â
âTsk. . !â
Unfortunately she knew that was right. Koharu is just Aoiâs childhood friend. She has no right to involve herself in the relationship between the two. She might have been able to push it saying she was a friend that was worried, but there are too many things sheâd have to be honest about. Koharu wasnât mature enough to put it all on her sleeve.
And unfortunately, time is up. It doesnât matter if Aoi comes back.
â. . . Iâve had enough.â
She turned her heel to Sara, prepared to leave quickly. Sara stood up in a hurry and said âWaitâ however Koharu shook it off, and headed for the escalator to leave.
Sara was left behind, only able to watch, staring at her until Koharu disappeared.
Koharu didnât notice until the end, but on Saraâs left shoulder was white hair from Aoiâs knit outfit.