Crimson hat and sunglasses. Thigh-high shorts. A woman in a milky white coat with the front buttons open will approach you. Ask for a picture. She'll be happy to oblige. By the way, that girl is Arina Hiba, the gluttonous, tongue-tied girl.

I sent that text to Makoto. He immediately replied with his approval, so I told Alina.

'Okay. Alina, you got the OK. Casually, really casually, approach Makoto so that you can get in her sight. That way she can talk to you.
''That's a hassle.''
'Good luck! If I go, Ryuka will see right through me, so I'm relying on you!
'Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. I'm going.

Throwing another piece of gum into her mouth, Alina started to walk away. With an air of dignity behind her back, Alina raised her right hand high in the air and made a fist. What the hell is that guy? He's a freak like me. I don't know anyone like that. He's a stranger.
I observe the couple a short distance away. They're in the penguin area.
Since there is no height difference between the two areas, I can't observe them from a high vantage point, so I watch them carefully to make sure they don't get caught.
Alina moves swiftly through the crowd and closes the distance to her target. I felt my heart rate rising as I watched her. Like a spy, she naturally moves closer to her target. Is she an MI5 spy?
Finally, Alina passed right in front of Makoto. Makoto was so scared that he called out to her as if he had been struck by lightning.
She was saying something to Alina in a nervous tone. As if she was getting impatient, Alina took Makoto's phone and held it in her hand. Alina finished her work as if she was going through the motions and came right back home. It all happened so fast.
For some reason, she was making a smug face, so I decided to give her a poke.

She had a really smug look on her face.
He was so jumpy when he saw me that he hesitated to speak to me. He was so teasing that I had to go over and talk to him.
I spoiled it for them by telling them that Alina was coming. Now I can't summon Alina anymore because she's made an impression on me. No happenings, please, Makoto-kun.

So I texted Makoto.

Whatever happens, you two work it out together. It'll give us a chance to bond.

Good. We can solve this ourselves to a certain extent.
If we get a call for help that requires someone, we can only use it one more time. Of course, that last card is me. You won't have to use us often, but you'll have to keep it as low as possible, or Ryuta will find out. Ryuka will be uncomfortable if she knows she's being watched.

I'll just hang around for the rest of the day. 'After that, we'll just hang out at random, wishing for your safety, for your happiness.






I never thought I would have the chance to visit an all-you-can-eat sweets store in my life.
This is what happened when I asked Alina where I could kill time after leaving the aquarium.

Is it okay if I come in here?

I glanced around the store and was horrified by the overwhelming percentage of female customers. There were high school girls, college girls, and female office workers. Clearly, this is not the world I know. Am I supposed to sit in this sweet-smelling space? How cruel. You need a little more testosterone in your system.

Don't worry about it.

No, I care. This is like breaking into a women's bathroom. The waitress is a girl, the customers are girls, and I'd like to ask them if this place is forbidden to boys.
No matter how much I screamed in my mind, not even a single bite reached Alina, and eventually I found myself sitting down. The air surrounding me is so foreign that I feel uncomfortable. Help me, Makoto.

I was taken aback by Arina's eagerness to eat, but I gradually became accustomed to it. The sweets in the line are delicious. There are so many varieties that I don't know which one to choose, so I leave it all up to Alina, but everything that comes out is delicious.
The best part is the tomato juice served at the table. That's right, all-you-can-drink tomato juice. It was so good that I was almost moved to the point of shedding tears of blood. Alina says 'Dracula' to me, but I don't care and keep drinking. It's just as well, because it tastes so good.
Alina continues to eat. I think she has a black hole in her stomach.

"How can she eat so much?
'Girls who eat are popular with the ladies.
That's the second time. You might be persuasive, but you don't eat that much at school.'
'Yes, it is. That's why it's hard.
'You don't eat?'
High school doesn't have that kind of atmosphere, does it?

Certainly no one is munching on something every short break. If they did, they'd probably look at you with curiosity. He's probably just worried about being seen.

He's eating all the time today.
'You're not a big eater for such a big guy.
'I get good gas mileage. Eco body.
'My gas mileage sucks. Enemy of the earth.

After ninety minutes of talking like this, the all-you-can-eat session came to an end. I spent the last part of the meal sipping tomato juice and watching Alina. I periodically muttered to myself, "She eats so much, eats so much, eats so much! Alina was always sticking a fork into something and bringing it to her mouth.


I left the store and let the outside air fill my lungs. The sweet smell nearly destroyed my nose. The cool air permeates my body.

'I don't think anything else will happen, so let's break up.
'We'll break up if that's what you want, but why don't you at least give them a heads up? I'm sure they care about us.'
'Right. I'll text you.

It is not even dusk yet, so they will still be touring the city. You may be a little surprised at their early departure, but you should treat yourself like a baby about to be weaned.
As I type, Alina tugs at my hem and hides behind me.

'Do you have sudden shyness syndrome?
'No, I'm not! In front! About 20 meters away!

There were so many people that I couldn't tell who or what they were referring to. I squint my eyes and look at the view in front of me in detail. But I soon gave up because of the chaos of people coming and going.

'Alina. I don't understand.
'Idiot! You're getting closer! Come here!

He pulls me hard to escape. But my curiosity about the mystery grew, and I stayed and tried with all my might to figure it out.

Where is it?

And I locked eyes with a girl.
In this vast and mysterious universe, where even the sun looks as small as a quail's egg, my eyes met Namiki Shirana's eyes. It's a miracle. As soon as I think of that nonsense, Hakuna opens her mouth round and points at me. She is surprised at the coincidence. Then Yuri Hiiragi and Ran Miyanaka, the head of the tennis club, appear from the crowd. They both noticed me.
Is that what you mean, Alina? This is certainly not good. Alina in plain clothes and me in a tuxedo are on a holiday together. My appearance in particular makes no sense. Why am I in a tuxedo? To be honest, I don't know either. But I know exactly how the three of them feel.

Arina Hibane and Comet Sakakiki on a date.

If you have a normal, average, and somewhat common moral sense, you will naturally come to that conclusion. Even I think so.
Shirana and the others were coming toward us, but I saw them slow. My brain must be screaming and searching for excuses.
As for Alina, the rescuer, she seems to have come to her senses and is ready to accept the situation. In other words, she is just a statue standing there.
But I'm not giving up. I can just tell her straight out that I'm not dating Alina, but simply keeping an eye on the Makoto Ryuuta couple. If you light a fire in their hearts and appeal to them with passionate words, they will understand.
If you still doubt me, I'll show you the e-mail exchange between me and Makoto. And if I ask for Makoto's cooperation later, I can prove my innocence. Don't worry, I can win. I said to Alina, trying to cheer myself up.

I've won, Alina.
'I don't get it. ......'

You're right, it doesn't make sense. If I were in Alina's shoes, I would say the same thing.
Hakuna and the others finally stood in our way.

Are you Alina?

Shirana ignored me and approached Alina. Even with sunglasses on, she seemed to know. Ryuuta might recognize me.

'Yes.

Like a Hollywood star, Alina elegantly removes her sunglasses.

'I knew it! Alina, you have a good style, so I can tell by your appearance.'

Shirana smiles happily. But Yuri and Ran, who are standing beside her, look at me with grins. I become a statue of Alina, just like she was a few dozen seconds ago. I don't think about anything. Nothing, I am a human being. I like tomatoes.

'Comet, what are you wearing? What's wrong?
'......'
'Hey, comet. Are you alive?
'......'
'Hey.
'......'

Yuri confirmed whether Comet Sakakibiki was alive or dead, and Ran punched him in the stomach. Ran hit Sakakibiki in the stomach. But he kept his mind clear. I fix my viewpoint on the infinite distance, imagining the Andromeda Galaxy that will appear at night, and I am in the middle of being impressed by the grandeur of the universe.
The daytime sky is blue. At night it is pitch black. Have you ever wondered why the universe is jet black? Everywhere you look in 360 degrees, it is pitch black. This is because the universe is an infinite vacuum. We can perceive colors only when light strikes an object and is reflected by it, reaching our eyes.
Since the universe is a near-vacuum, light travels straight ahead and is not reflected. Then, why is there no reflection at the end of the universe? If the end of the universe existed, it might reach the earth. But if it does not reach the earth, it may be because there is no end in the first place.
In addition, since the expansion speed of the universe is faster than the speed of light, light cannot tell us whether there is an end or not. It is absolutely terrifying. Why do we exist? Why does the universe expand without us? What is outside of it, or even within its boundaries? What is there in the first place? Why does the world exist? Will this ultimate question ever be answered?



I found myself alone.
Alina and the three men were gone, and I was standing alone.
I checked my cell phone and found a text message from Alina.

I'm going home with the three of you first. You go to the psychiatrist before you leave.

Apparently, the girls have left. It's only 3:00 in the afternoon, so they'll probably make a detour.
Having nothing better to do, I bought two bottles of tomato juice from the vending machine and decided to go home.
One for me and one for my sister.

The universe is-- deep.