Interlude: The Gap with the Ordinary

—The gondola four ahead.

“Ah, I see, so that's what's up. That explains a lot.”

“I’m so sorry… I never thought it would turn out like this…”

“No, no, it’s nothin’ for you to apologize for, Miharu-chan. I mean, it can't be helped, right?”

“…”

“So, is that what you wanted to talk about?”

“…No. Um…”

“Huh?”

“Mitaka-kun… from now on… what do you want to happen with Mei?”

“…Ah, sorry. Don’t really get what you mean.”

“You don’t have to pretend. I already know.”

“…Am I that easy to read? Asahi said something to me the other day, too…”

“What… did he say?”

“Well, he was like, ‘Are you satisfied with just being friends forever?’”

“How did you answer?”

“Nah, I just dodged the question then. After that, he started sayin’ stuff like, ‘Do whatever you want, but I’ll do what I want too.’”

“…!”

“He’s so weird sometimes… won’t answer even if I ask.”

“…Mitaka-kun.”

“?”

“Actually, you see—”

—

“—Seriously? Wait, all of it, for real?”

“…Yeah.”

“Seriously… Dammit, so that’s why… that’s why he said that stuff…”

“So, will you… help me? I’ll help you too.”

“Ah, no… I mean, I’m happy you’ll help. But, in this situation—”

“I know.”

“—”

“I know, but… I can’t go on like this.”

“…Miharu-chan.”

“I’m sorry… I’m the worst, aren’t I?”

“That’s not true. I get how you feel, so it can’t be helped.”

“Then—”

“…Yeah. It pisses me off, but Asahi’s right. It’s way worse to just sit back and be a good boy like this. Alright, I've made up my mind!”

“…I’m sorry… I’m so, so sorry…”

“No, no, why are you apologizing so much? You haven’t done anything wrong.”

“…”

“Anyway… I guess being selfish like this is more normal, huh—”

◆

—The gondola six ahead.

“Anyway, Kiyosato always acts like the leader, doesn’t she? Like she’s all high and mighty.”

“Huh, really? I didn’t really think so…”

“Ew, what’s with you? Did you get the wrong idea after hanging out with her?”

“So gullible. The type to fall for her just ’cause you exchanged contact info?”

“N-No, that’s not it! It’s just that, she doesn’t seem like a bad person, you know…?”

“Hello…? She’s obviously just putting on an act. I heard she used to be a child actor.”

“Nah, she was a reader model. I saw her in a magazine with a catchphrase like ‘The Angel on the Corner.’”

“Besides, there’s no way a nationally famous beauty like her would hang out with us regular people, right? We live in totally different worlds.”

“…Well, when you put it like that.”

“And she’s definitely just trying to score points. The fact that she’s always surrounded by hot guys says it all.”

“And she keeps a plain girl next to her to make herself look better, right? Totally using her as a foil.”

“Ah, so that’s why they’re such a mismatched group… If that’s the case, that’s so not cool.”

“—Well, whatever. But don’t you think she’ll get what’s coming to her eventually?”

“Whoa, Ririko, scary. What, are you gonna take her out back and beat her up?”

“As if! I’m not some dumb delinquent. There’s no way I’d ruin my future by doing something so conspicuous.”

“Then, what do you mean…?”

“I mean, c’mon.”

“There’s no way an angel from a different world and a normal human can stay together, right?”