With the opening of Giotto's door, Shiro Kirishima scanned the entire place.

"Here, here~"

Finding each other, Rin raised her hand to a wave and called out while Rena beside her waved gently.

"Haaaaah… We haven't had lunch in a while."

"Yeah~ It's October now so let's try out the seasonal menu."

"You seem awfully happy, Ringo. Has CCI finally made you insane?"

"Non, non."

"Oh? So… did Gin finally propose to you and you said yes?"

"Pfft…!" somehow, it made Rena burst out.

"I'm saying this 'no' for another context."

"You should be saying 'not yet.'"

"Oh, right. You have a point."

For some reason, it was Shiro that got embarrassed.

"Your orders, dear customers?" a waiter then approached their table.

"Get back to the kitchen, Potato."

…

‹Rin›

Obviously, nothing really is easy in college and that includes getting to meet old friends. It just so happened that our free times in this weekday coincided with each other especially since our instructor didn't come to our lecture. Then a few pings on our phones, and we secured a time to have lunch together with Shiro.

That aside, I can never reiterate enough how much of a great value Giotto's is. Eating here is basically fine dining on a bargain, but you don't really compromise. It is very known that Giotto's is not really on a level of a Michelin restaurant by any stretch of the imagination, but inside their kitchen, they have very capable hands that turn affordable ingredients to some fine dishes. If the smartphone world has "flagship killers," then Giotto's is a "fast-food killer."

From the way I talked just now, it just tells that I'm really hungry.

"I've never really asked, Ringo, but are assessments in CCI the same in my school? Like, you don't really get written exams?"

"Hmm, yeah. We have a bit of food technology and science but we're mostly behind a kitchen counter. But what eats up on my budget is when I'm buying ingredients, ugh… Sometimes it's all you can grab and sometimes we basically do a M*ster Chef kind of thing.

But thankfully, that's the scope of my investments although I spend a lot for that. It's not really a known thing since I strongly requested the admin not to disclose but I was granted a half-scholarship while it feels like Ms. Sora is going to suddenly appear in our house when it's that time of the semester again…"

"I get you… But really, they've done so much after that incident. It sometimes makes me guilty."

"Yeah… Definitely after I graduate, I'll be sure to repay them in some ways."

"Kagurazaka doesn't have any subsidiary on food services, right?"

"I think… but I'll do something."

~ ~ ~

"Tadaima, danna-samaaa~"

"Would you stop being so brazen and not enter someone's house right after coming home, Rin?

Okaeri."

"Tired…"

"Mrow."

"Awww… c'mere and I'll pet you, Haku~"

"She's so cheery so suddenly. This girl…"

Somehow after a few days of being in human form last month, Haku suddenly turned back to being a cat. Potato explained his newly found circumstances from a cat named Rou, and honestly, they didn't really make any sense. I'm just a little sad that I'm not able to communicate with him anymore. But Potato always tells me that it might be a sign that I will be able to talk to him again sooner or later, but I'm not so sure.

If we are however talking about his cat and his human form, Haku definitely feels truer as a cat because he's a cat!

I really wanted to watch them when they went ham on the base, though…!

"What's for dinner, Potato?"

"Help, then you'll know."

"Okay."

I always say that Potato doesn't really change, but I suppose something has. In the past, Gin has always been chummy between our relationship, but lately he has become a little bid cold, or probably just normal since he has always been warm. Though I didn't really take it badly. It just feels like our relationship has become more normal as time goes on and that I think it has finally become a very natural part of our life. Bottomline, I still love him a lot and I like the way things are between us.

"Actually, can Haku now eat our food when he's a cat?"

"Nope. Things went back to normal after that."

…

Bonk

"Wait, what was that bonk I just heard?"

Did Potato really have to ask himself that when we saw Haku's face planting on the floor when we turned around?

Wait, why did Haku suddenly bonked as a human?!

…

If it's not obvious enough, we like using the word bonk.

Bonk.

"Alriiigght, that does it for a new data about Haku's case? Did you suddenly change?"

"Yeah… I think."

"Oh yeah, Potato, why don't we do a 'Henshin…!!!' pose and see if it will work?"

"No way…! That's embarrassing…!!" the cat lashed out.

"See that, ojou-san, he doesn't understand the reference but his intuition knows.

Well, since you're a big boy again, help me on taking out the kotatsu."

"Yes, all for the kotatsu…!"

"Right, right, lazy bum."

▪ ▪ ▪

Really, if our instructors are not going to attend lectures for the entire afternoon then I should just go home…

But why are there manga and light novels in this library?!

I don't know if the librarian is behind this or the student council, but I sure am thankful for this! I'm suddenly having flashbacks of that one time in Blue Ink's library where the library desk was so immaculate especially in this time of the year. Yet I can't reach peak comfort here in CCI's library.

"Ah, Ringo-nee!"

I couldn't help but blush, regardless of who it was that called me.

"…

R-Reina…?!" that may have sounded loud, but I did my best to lower my voice.

It was however a complete surprise for me. I never thought or expected that this kouhai of mine from Blue Ink applied and passed the admission test here in CCI. Without hesitation, or rather, she kinda looks excited, she placed her books down and sat opposite of me.

"Let's see… a cook book, 'Myth Busting Food W*rs,' a book written by a famous chef, a recipe book of a YouCuber, a novel that I don't know, and… the final volume of Orega*ru…"

"Hahh… I'm such a bad senior…"

"…?"

Majority of the students inside this room is basically studying, yet here is Ringo Akanami being the weeb she is. Go, me.

Later, I placed a bookmark and closed the volume I am reading.

"I didn't know you got in here, Reina. Congratulations."

"T-Thank you."

"I'm more surprised that we haven't seen each other until today. It's been a few months. Are you in Division 2?"

"Ah, no. I'm a first year in Div.1."

"I heard that Yuka Kobana finally got a subject in your grade. Do you meet him usually?"

"Yes," then she whispered, "is it true that Sir Koba is married to Ane Rena from your grade?"

"Oh? Is it well-known now?"

"No, I just heard it when I was still in Blue Ink."

"I see, but it really is true. They also have a son which… he's probably four this year. But it's an 'if you know, you know' thing, so we don't really talk about it openly."

"Oh…" as expected, she took it with dejection.

"By the way… can you tell me what that book is about?" I pointed on the book with a title "Man and his Mirror."

"Oh this… It's something that my brother recommended me to read but I'm borrowing this here since I can't find it on bookstores as of the moment."

"I guess you like reading, Reina?"

"Not really… I'm just a casual reader, but my brother always tells me that I get absorbed on books that I read."

"Ahhh, I get you. Gin always tells me the same thing. What is it about though?"

"It was apparently based on a true story… is it fine if I spoil it?"

"I like that you asked me that first~ but it's fine."

"Then… it's about the main character that finds out of a person that has identical traits and habits as him, and even events in their lives line up although in different circumstances.

It was uncanny how they are the same in so many ways that aren't really possible realistically. Basically, the author is story-telling his own experience so it is a self-insert. Though I don't really believe that it actually happened to the author himself.

But I still liked the title and it's a good read in the end."

"That somehow sounds familiar to my ear… if you're going to buy a copy in a store, can I come with you?"

"I guess… you've heard of this book?"

"It's actually the first time I'm seeing that, but it did catch my interest.

Here's my QR code."

"O-Oh…"

Afterwards, we continued on our chats until her next class. It seems that she was just borrowing books but she stumbled upon me by chance, and suddenly, I was able to close in some distance between us.

About that book… I was mostly shrugging it out. Truly, it sounded very much like the case of Gin, G, and Eijiro. I wasn't able to even read a word on that book since I was absorbed on talking with Reina and it was fun.

But things suddenly took a turn. We may have become friends last year in the Open Event but we haven't really gone to the getting-to-know-each-other bit until now. But while our conversations were continuing, I couldn't help but feel like something is unusual.

She told me that she once had a complex in her height since she grew way taller than a normal girl's height in childhood, and she was sometimes bullied because of it. However, it was now water under the bridge for her.

I have the awareness that Reina and I certainly are on the minutely taller side of girls in our age, and we apparently have the same height as I expected. I also learned that she used to grow her brown hair quite long in the past, and she is now maintaining it on a medium length.

There is also the time where his brother inspired her to learn how to cook, and now she is here. Another thing is that she got into art after an accident in which she got a fracture on her leg. She was apparently a member of an athletic team on her early days in junior high, but she had to quit because of her injury; and on top of that, she was burdened with the responsibility that she left.

It also seems that she is very attached to his brother, as she herself told me how much he looks up and loves him. If anything, it was all commendations that I heard. That being said, he mentioned that his brother has been a sickly man until five or less years ago. He told me stories in which he gets bedridden easily with severe fevers but always have fought through them until it had gradually disappeared and obtained a new energy.

She said that somehow her brother changed after getting ultimately better and had become more loving to their family. It all sounded as though he was someone that was in pain in the past… or it was just my impression of him as I am someone who sees a man similar to him.

However… it was all the more reason why I was left greatly disoriented and suspicious of her story. It's not that I didn't believe her… if anything, her words were very wholesome and true. But in the midst of that, I can't help but feel that something is very weird or unusual.

No… it can't possibly be that she is…

▪ ▪ ▪

It wasn't really unusual for me to be out here in the institute even on a weekend. Pretty much, that's just how college is. An instructor wasn't able to attend a lecture, but they have the academic freedom to reschedule it, and now I'm here for literally only two hours.

At least, Chiba-chan invited me for lunch thankfully.

By chance however, I met with Reina on the gates of CCI, also about to leave.

"A-Ahh! I was about to contact you, Ringo-nee."

"Ehhh? Does this mean they have the book now? If you're going now then we can head out."

"Have you had lunch already, Ringo-nee?"

"Yeah, I stopped by the dorms to crash in. You?"

"I haven't. Can you wait for me…? Ehehe."

"It's fine~ I haven't had a dessert anyway. Where do you want to go?"

"There's a restaurant in the station."

"Ohhh. I haven't gone there. Let's go."

~ ~ ~

Well, what do you know. We originally planned on grabbing the book at the store but we went on so many tangents after that. Even I ask myself how our tangents got to us watching a movie and playing rhythm games on the arcade since we're already in the mall.

Before we even realized it, it was already 4:30.

"Say… do you have any plans after this, Reina?"

"Ahhh… if I had, then I wouldn't be this distracted. I was basically free after my classes."

"If that's the case, do you not mind joining me for dinner tonight?"

"Uhh, eh? No, do you mind me, though? Is it really fine?"

"All's good. We always invited people for meals.

Ah, be right back, I need to call someone."

"Take your time Ane."

…

For some reason, my heart started to race.

"Hello, Potato-kun."

"Hey-ssu. Whacha doing?"

"I'll be home in a while, but I invited Reina for dinner tonight."

"So… wait, we've only been theorizing, but you're going to tell her?"

"Yeah. But I feel like I can't say it by myself."

"Hmm, alright. I'll also try getting G if he's free."

"Okay, bye."

"Sukidesu."

*beep*

"Reina~ sorry for the wait."

~ ~ ~

By the time we've reached White Street, the first snowfall of this year arrived.

"I'm home, Potato."

"Welcome back."

I know that this always happens, but I really can't blame Reina for being so surprised. Umm, yeah, it's been the normal between us… yeah.

That aside, Haku is a cat cat again. No, that's not a typo.

I certainly am acting like this is also my house, and she is probably thinking that I actually live here, but nonetheless I invited her to sit in the kotatsu while I went to the kitchen to help Gin but also resolved the potential misunderstanding.

"Ah, good evening, Yuka Ginji."

"Likewise."

"I heard from Aomine that you transferred out of CSU, Yuka?" so naturally, a conversation has started.

"That's true. I had free tuition, but there's a point where things aren't really worth it.

Ah, don't get me wrong though, the school is very fine and the professors are great. I'm just really concerned about my disorder and the nonstop flooding here so I went to IIAT which is closer."

"Ah right, G, are your plans still going on fine?" asked Potato.

"Thankfully, yeah. It's really difficult but it feels like it's lighter to move around.

Oh, hey there, Haku, gotten used to the life?"

"Meow."

"Of course I can't understand him, sadly."

"Dinner's done. Let's just eat on the kotatsu shall we?"

~ ~ ~

After dinner, it felt like I was the only one feeling an immense amount of tension. Silence engulfed the living room, and my ears started to ring.

"Is it okay to ask what is your birth date, Reina?"

"It's fine. I was born in November 9."

The eyes of the three of us immediately widened upon hearing it.

After another juncture of silence, Potato then started.

"I heard from Rin that your brother was sickly in the past. By any chance, was he also mentally unstable at that time?"

"Umm… yes, he was…"

"I suppose he also experienced extreme fevers, like… they were abnormal?"

"Did you also have the same case, Yuka?"

"Yes. But in my case, it has been a part of my life. I have very high endurance though, so it doesn't bother me so much.

…

*claps* Let's have an arm wrestling competition…!"

Sasuga Gin-kun.

"Then let's have Reina and Rin first shall we? The surface of the table isn't really hot, right?"

"Yup. Let's get on with it, Reina."

"Ehhhh?! Are we r-really doing this…?"

"We are, we are! I'm actually a gorilla, but no one calls me that."

"Did you seriously just call yourself a gorilla, Rin?!"

"Not a gorilla cyclops, though. But I'm on!"

"A-Are you really sure, Ringo-nee…?"

Somehow, she was hesitating but was also getting her right arm ready as if she is a pro. But I caught on with Gin's intentions as I apparently have done so usually. This was pretty much a test for her.

Our hands clasped with our elbows planted on the table while Potato's hand was literally weighing on our arms.

"Start," and so he released his hand.

I was of course putting my all on this, because if I do not, I would have lost by now. But it seems that we are thinking the same thing and not giving out. Deep down, I was expecting one specific result, but still it left me very surprised.

It really did appear that our arms have not moved exceeding an inch on both sides. We were almost at the exact place since we started.

"Alright, Rin has tapped out," even when I obviously haven't.

"Hahh… that was a good one, Reina."

"That was amazing, Ringo-nee…!"

"Hahahaha, you too. We were so equal on that…

What a coincidence."

"While you two are resting, can you find us an anime quiz online?" G suggested.

"Good idea, I have whiteboards. Give me a sec."

Dot, dot, dot, fifteen minutes later.

"Aren't your handwritings really identical, Yuka?" finally, Reina asked.

"Oh, I didn't tell you this, Rin, but Reina actually got her hand a little hurt at WT because boiling water was spilled."

"Did that really happen, Reina…?"

"Yes, it did. But it wasn't really that bad.

A-Anyway…! I'm still intrigued!"

"Ah, yeah. We both have the same handwriting. Also, look at both of our writer's bump."

"They're the same too…"

"I'm really sorry if our sequence of questions is really weird but… I was born around 2pm at normal delivery. Do you know yours, Reina?"

"T-That was…"

"Then, to put a nail on this, can we write our names on the whiteboards?"

Reina then picked up the marker and began to write her name with a rather confused expression on her face. Without looking, I also began writing.

…

Just as I thought, our handwriting was also ultimately identical.

"Reina…

This may sound weird for you, but you are most likely what is called an 'coincidental existence.' And that… your life and your experiences may have coincided with mine."