It was a beautiful weekend, and today Yui Hoshino had plans to go out for karaoke with friends she'd been close to back in middle school. They'd been talking about it in the group chat for a while now, and finally, everyone's schedules lined up.

In Japan, even high school students are expected to have an active social life otherwise, you risk being labeled as someone who just holes up at home. And once young people get into university, they'll be invited to all sorts of mixers and social gatherings.

Someone like Yui, the cheerful type who makes friends wherever she goes, used to have her weekends completely booked.

"Yui, you hardly ever come out with us anymore," one of her friends half-joked before they'd even started singing. "Ever since you got into Soubu High, you've been ignoring your old friends?"

Back in middle school, Yui's grades were only average, so when she managed to pass the entrance exams for the prestigious Soubu High, everyone had been shocked.

In this area, the name "Soubu" is a badge of honor synonymous with high university acceptance rates, the kind of achievement parents love to brag about, the kind that makes other parents envious, and the promise of a bright future.

Graduates from Soubu usually go on to top universities and then into well-known companies, eventually ending up on the school's "Wall of Honor" to inspire future students.

Yui quickly hooked her arm around her friend Midori's shoulders, playfully protesting. "No way, no way. You know me, Midori I'm just barely scraping by at Soubu. Honestly, it's been so stressful."

One of the secrets to good socializing: show a bit of vulnerability, reveal your struggles, and people will feel closer to you.

"Two weeks ago, I failed my math midterm. If I hadn't been cramming like crazy, I'd be repeating a year instead of hanging out right now!"

Another friend laughed and patted Midori on the shoulder. "Don't tease her. Even if Yui's at Soubu now, she's still one of us. She's just as bad at math as ever!"

The room's atmosphere warmed instantly.

Japan's everyday life is quiet speak too loudly in public, and someone will politely ask you to keep it down. People's emotions are so bottled up that they need a way to let loose now and then.

Karaoke is the perfect outlet.

In the small, lively booth, people sang one after another, the loud chatter mixing with deafening background music.

But even in the middle of all the noise and laughter, Yui found herself thinking she'd rather be at home doing practice problems, sending the tough ones to Yukino Yukishiro.

And in between asking her for help, slipping in silly, pointless jokes.

Jokes that, most of the time, would only earn Yukino's signature deadpan sarcasm:

"Yui, are you an idiot?"

"If we drained all the water from your head, the wind would probably blow you away."

"You're hopeless… though maybe you'd be great at doing rakugo people would start laughing just by looking at you."

Rakugo Japan's form of comic monologue.

But sometimes, Yukino's words would soften, just a little:

"To reach this level in two weeks… for your ability, that's impressive."

"Even without natural talent, I can't deny the effort you've put in."

"Your jokes are terrible… fine, keep going. They're kind of funny."

Yukino.

Yukino.

Yukino.

Yui's mind was full of her.

A friend's voice broke through her thoughts, handing her a microphone.

"This song's my specialty! Yui, let's sing it together!"

The upbeat intro began, the others smiling expectantly.

Yui took the mic and smiled apologetically. "I'm not great at this one, so don't blame me if I ruin it, Midori~"

"No way, it'll be fine!"

The song had lots of tricky transitions and a high note at the end totally not Yui's strong suit. She stumbled through it, her voice breaking here and there.

Midori, on the other hand, sang with ease, unaffected by Yui's fumbles. Against Yui's off-key singing, her talent stood out even more. By the end, everyone clapped for her.

"You're amazing, Midori!"

"You've really got a gift for this!"

"You could totally become an idol!"

"…if only Yui didn't sound so bad, haha!"

Midori playfully rolled her eyes. "Oh, stop it. I'm not that good."

Then she turned to Yui with a smile. "You're just not used to this kind of song, right? You'll wow them with the next one."

If she knew Yui wasn't good at this kind of song, why had she singled her out to duet in front of everyone?

Yui didn't say anything. She just kept smiling, playing along.

But for the rest of the night, she never picked up the mic again.

When the gathering ended, everyone cheerfully said their goodbyes, talking about meeting up again sometime. Yui smiled, waved, and got on the train where her smile immediately disappeared.

Friendship needed constant contact to stay alive. Yui knew this well.

Without the daily connection of school, even close middle school friends would drift apart quickly let alone elementary school classmates.

No matter how much effort she put in to grow closer to Yukino, in the end, she might still be just another face in the crowd.

Unless… she became something more than just a friend.

"When it comes to playing dumb, Yui, you really are gifted."

She could still hear Hachiro Hikigaya's words from yesterday.

Yui thought of Yukino's quiet beauty when she lowered her gaze, her unexpected cuteness when she delivered a snarky remark.

Her awkward honesty.

Her helpless expression when Yui teased her.

That fleeting vulnerability and loneliness in her eyes.

Yui loved all of it.

She didn't want to just pass Yukino by in the crowd.

But

"Yui, you should figure out the difference between friendship and love… sooner rather than later."

Hachiro's advice still lingered in her ears.

Leaning back against the train seat, Yui let out a long breath and pulled out her phone. She opened Twitter and saw that Yumiko Miura had posted again last night:

"If someone confessed to me right now, I might actually consider it…"

The attached picture was of the moon in the night sky.

In the comments, someone eagerly declared, "Miura-senpai, I like you!!!"

Yumiko's reply was blunt: "Go away."

No.

So now you understand.

No, Yui. You can't.

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