"Ouch... that kind of hurt, you know..." I rub my head. "You've got to do something with your bonking tendencies..."

"You don't get it, Yumi-chan." Ayano sighs. "Sometimes, bonks are necessary, especially when it comes to a certain friend who randomly makes mean jokes."

"But— But they're just jokes!" I slightly snap at her as I knead my head. "Ayano, I already know that you're dumb, but I'm pretty sure you're not so dumb, you can't even tell if I'm joking or not. That would be a different level of dumbness, right?"

Ayano titters as she takes small steps into our house. "That's funny, Yumi-chan! But well, I—"

Gasping at her sudden realization, Ayano pauses her steps.

"...YUMI-CHAN, YOU JUST CALLED ME DUMB! YOU CALLED ME DUMB! YOU INSULTED ME, YUMI-CHAN! HOW COULD YOU CALL YOUR BEST FRIEND DU—"

"Yes, yes, anyways..." I cut her off and I push her into our living room. "Don't be so loud and just... make yourself at home, I guess..." I close the door as we walk inside.

"Aya-san, welcome." Miyo bows and welcomes Ayano.

"Aw, thank you for the warm welcome, Yocchan! I see that you're still as cute as ever!" Ayano pats Miyo's head, ruffling her brown hair which was tied into two messy ponytails. "Yocchan bows and welcomes people who come over, and she doesn't use mean jokes as greetings, unlike a certain someone here."

"Yumi-chan, learn! Learn from your younger sister!"

Miyo looks at me with a somewhat triumphant expression on her face.

"Well, whatever..." I roll my eyes to a slight extent. "Ayano, you said you'd come over because you wanted to 'talk to me in person more', right?"

"Oh, yeah, Yumi-chan!" Ayano sits on the couch. "The last time I came over here was one month ago, it's been a while!"

"Mhm, I guess so. It hasn't been that long, though." I sit on the other side of the couch. "Well, let's talk, then!"

"Ah, so... I'll be going upstairs now." Miyo walks to the stairs. "Nee-chan, can I borrow one of your mangas~?"

"Oh, sure. Which one?"

"Umeboshi Colors."

"Which volume?"

"Three."

"Yeah, sure. It's in the third row of my bookshelf."

"Thanks~!"

"Oh, but make sure to be careful with—"

Aaaaaaaand... she's gone.

"Ahaha! Yocchan also likes reading, huh~?" Ayano gives out a half-supressed laugh. "I guess she has the same interests as you, Yumi-chan!"

"Well, some interests." I shrug. "Anyway, let's—"

"Ah, Ayano-chan! Welcome!" Mom comes by while wiping her hands with a towel. "Would you like some orange juice?"

"Eh? I'd love some orange juice, Miyako-san!"

"Well then, I'll be back with a glass." Mom smiles. "How about you, Mayumi?"

"Oh... no, no. I'm fine."

"Alright, I'll be right back!" Mom walks away.

"Haa, anyhow... Ayano, you were talking about Yasutake High in your messages, right? I can't believe we'll be going to school in three days, either. Time sure is fast, huh?" I faintly smile. "I'm kind of excited, but now that I think of it, we might not be able to do our hobbies much when we start going to school. We'll be doing assignments, reviewing for exams, and yeah, you know, school stuff. Still though, I wonder what Yasutake would be like. I can't help but wonder!" I laugh as I look at her. "What do you think, Ayano?"

...Huh?

Ayano stares at the coffee table that's in front of the couch we're sitting on, and she has a blank expression on her face.

"Ayano? You okay?"

"You know, Yumi-chan. I've always thought about this, but a while ago, you're the only one here who didn't welcome me properly... Yocchan and Miyako-san gave me a warm welcome and all, and you..."

Ah crap, here we go again.

"Yumi-chan, could it be that you're adopt—"

"No, of course not. Shut up, idiot."

"Oh my, are you two fighting?" Mom brings with her a glass and a carton of orange juice, and she gently puts the glass on the coffee table. "Seriously, sometimes I don't understand the two of you! You girls are already teenagers! But your little 'arguments' are sometimes cute, though. Is this how friendships are nowadays?" Mom smiles as she pours some juice into Ayano's glass.

"No, it's not how normal friendships are. But if your friend is an idiot, well this is how it is."

BONK!

"HEY! YOU'VE GOT TO STOP WITH THAT!"

"Fufu, how youthful! Have fun bonding together!" Mom giggles and steps out.

"Well! Let's talk! Seriously this time!" Ayano lets out a long exhale. "Just like you said, Yumi-chan! I'm also really, really, REALLY excited for school, but at the same time, I'm nervous, too! But the thing I'm excited for the most is... the clubs! The clubs sound really interesting, and we'll also get to meet new people, right? Like classmates and upperclassmen! Say, Yumi-chan, if you were going to join a club, which club would it be?"

"Me? Well..."

Hmm... if I were to join a club... which club would I join..?

"...A Literature Club, probably."