How We Met Again

Chapter 5: It's Rude to Eavesdrop

After the strategy meeting had ended, Ichika excused herself, claiming that social studies made her sleepy. The rest of the afternoon was just myself and Yotsuba learning about Sengoku-era warlords. After Ichika left, I also briefly excused myself to go wash my face and clear my head after the conversation. When I got back, Yotsuba had her books out, but seemed to be having trouble focusing.

"You know," she said absently a few minute later, flipping a page. "I think I had a video game about these guys at some point. Maybe I gave it to Miku...?"

"While that's certainly an... interesting way to learn history, it doesn't replace studying from a textbook," I responded. "What was the plot of the game?"

Yotsuba scrunched up her face. "Something about taking over areas and expanding territory? I don't really play many video games anymore, but I think it was some kind of game where you moved units on each turn and then they fought each other. Actually, now that I think about it, that's not a plot, that's a game mechanic. I don't remember, sorry! I also don't remember what it was called..."

I shrugged. "That's fine. I only know video games that came out over five years ago anyways. I haven't played any that came out since then. Actually... I don't think I've played any since then at all, even the older ones. They just don't interest me that much -- if I'm playing games, I could be studying."

I then returned to reading my textbook, using the eraser-tipped end of my pencil as a marker for my spot on the page. It allowed me to process the text more efficiently, a technique I'd picked up from a reference book on studying methods a few years ago.

Yotsuba was quiet for a minute, and then asked, "Did something happen five years ago that made you stop playing video games?"

"Yes."

"...Can I ask what it was?"

"No," I responded absent-mindedly, flipping the page. "I don't really want to talk about it, sorry."

I read the textbook for a few more minutes, and then realized Yotsuba was being strangely silent. I glanced up, and saw that she had her nose buried deep in her own book -- but from what I could see of her face, she was displaying a... confusing expression. Her eyes seemed a bit wider than usual, almost like she had a... panicked look on her face?

Reading expressions is hard. Make easier-to-read faces!

"Uh, are you ok there Yotsuba?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Huh? O-Oh, yeah! Yeah, I'm fine. Don't worry about it Uesugi-san! I was just a bit lost in thought."

As Yotsuba laughed it off, I felt a slight sense that something was awry, but I dismissed it. I don't think I know her well enough yet to be able to read things like that. It's probably in my head.

"Ah! This part kind of confuses me..."

The rest of the afternoon proceeded as usual, and by the end I was certain I had just been imagining things. Yotsuba was just her usual, cheery self. Any hint of panic or worry was gone from her face.

I was probably just projecting because of the conversation we had with Ichika. Don't overthink things, Fuutarou -- you'll just get yourself into trouble that way.

We finished up for the day, and then went our separate ways after leaving the school. The journey home passed in a blur -- I was on autopilot the whole way, not processing a single thing around me. When I finally got home, Raiha was in the middle of cooking dinner, so I put my school things away and began setting the table. Once I'd finished, Raiha served up a nice stirfry, Chinese style, for all three of us. As I ate, I thought about the strategy for Operation Twintail that we had decided upon for the next few days.