The next day, 8:14 AM, Station Plaza.
Sitting on a bench under the shade of the plaza, Miyahito looked up at the bustling station entrance and couldn't help but recall yesterday's scene when Eriri and Utaha met for the first time.
'Thinking about it, in the anime, Utaha was always alone. Aside from Eriri, she didn't have a single like-minded close friend.'
Turning his head slightly, Miyahito looked gently at Utaha, who was leaning half her body against him, her little head resting on his shoulder as she slept soundly.
Reaching up, he gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, then pulled his suitcase a bit closer and tilted his head, resting his cheek lightly against her smooth hair.
Indeed, Utaha and Eriri were like-minded friends. To be more precise, they were the kind of frenemies who loved and hated each other in equal measure.
But.
Thinking carefully about the anime.
Throughout all three years of high school, Kasumigaoka Utaha had actually spent it all alone.
Because during that time, both Eriri and Utaha liked the same person, and this person never gave a clear answer to the two girls who liked him until Utaha graduated and entered university.
So, how could the strong-willed Utaha possibly get along amicably with her "rival"?
"But everything has changed now."
Lowering his gaze slightly to look at the dappled light reflecting on the ground, Miyahito murmured to himself.
That's right. Everything had changed.
The Utaha who had nothing in the anime now, in this reality, had a boyfriend named 'Aragaki Miyahito', good female friends like Hori Kyoko and Yoshikawa Yuki, and several male friends she could talk to and get along with quite well.
She had gained love, friendship, and even the affection of the Aragaki couple.
'Is the current Utaha happy, I wonder?'
Looking lovingly at the girl sleeping peacefully against him, her face showing tranquility and reassurance, Miyahito asked himself quietly in his heart.
Is Utaha happy?
Had he succeeded in giving her happiness?
....
After a while.
"Utaha, time to wake up."
Seeing it was almost time, Miyahito gently woke her, lightly patting her pretty cheek.
"Mmm..." Letting out a sleepy murmur but keeping her eyes closed, Utaha pouted impatiently and swatted his hand away, mumbling, "Miyahito~~ let me sleep a bit more."
"Utaha."
Watching his girlfriend act spoiled and refuse to open her eyes, Miyahito reached out to support her as she kept tipping forward, his tone full of helplessness. "Wake up, it's almost time."
"Mmm.... mmm....."
"Stop 'mmming', get up, or we'll miss the train."
"Mm! I'm up, I'm up!"
Reluctantly opening her eyes, Utaha looked up at her helpless boyfriend with a mix of grievance and complaint, whining coquettishly, "Miyahito, you're so mean!"
".....Utaha." With black lines on his forehead, Miyahito helplessly raised his hand and lightly poked her sleepy forehead, saying through gritted teeth, "Whose fault is it? You were the one who said we had to take the 8:45 Shinkansen!"
"Hmph!"
Feeling slightly in the wrong, Utaha snorted proudly. Sitting up straight, she turned slightly and took out her makeup mirror from the bag between them.
Ignoring her helpless boyfriend, she checked her appearance in the mirror.
"Mm! Still as beautiful as ever!"
Hearing his girlfriend's narcissistic remark, Miyahito perfunctorily replied, speechless. "Yes, yes, Utaha is the most beautiful!"
"So, can we enter the station now? We have less than ten minutes."
Her good mood ruined by his unromantic words, Utaha glared angrily at Miyahito, who had already stood up and grabbed his suitcase handle. Then, she elegantly and gracefully stood up.
Raising her plump yet long legs, she quickly walked past her innocent-looking boyfriend, heading straight for the station without looking back.
Miyahito, slightly caught off guard, looked up at his girlfriend who was already a few steps ahead. The next second, he quickly pulled his suitcase and chased after her.
"Utaha, wait for me...."
"Walk faster! Didn't you say we were going to be late?"
"Eh? Is this my fault?"
"....Yeah, yeah, I was wrong, Lady Utaha. Let's walk faster."
"Mhm."
....
After a while, having seen Utaha onto the train and settled her in.
"Well, I'll be heading back then."
Standing in the aisle beside her seat, Miyahito looked down at Utaha after giving her his instructions.
"Mhm."
Tilting her face up, Utaha looked at her slightly reluctant boyfriend and nodded with curved, smiling eyes.
Actually, Miyahito was reluctant to leave her.
But how could Utaha bear to go so long without seeing her beloved Mr. Miyahito?
"Hey." Reaching out to grab the hem of her boyfriend's shirt as he was about to turn and leave, Utaha bit her lip and said softly to him as he looked back, "Unless... um, just remember to take good care of yourself."
Halfway through her sentence, Utaha ultimately didn't finish saying, 'Unless... you come home with me? I want to take you to meet my mom and dad, Miyahito.'
Because she remembered last night in her apartment, when Ayase heard Miyahito say he was going back to Chiba tomorrow, Ayase's voice had been both happy and slightly worried.
'Really? Big brother is really coming back tomorrow?'
That's right. Just like how her parents hadn't seen her for a long time and called to ask when she was coming home.
Having lived with her brother day and night since childhood, how could that little girl not look forward to when her brother was coming home?
So.
"Remember to spend some time with Ayase once you get home." Taking advantage of the few minutes before the train departed, Utaha stood up from her seat and reached out to adjust her boyfriend's collar.
"Although I'm very happy that you put me first."
"But don't forget you have a little sister, Ayase."
Hearing Utaha's words, Miyahito vaguely felt there was more to it.
However, although he didn't quite understand why she said that, he still subconsciously nodded and agreed.
"I got it."