"Polystone's okay, but if it cracks you're in trouble. Tomoya-san, which do you think is better? What I think is . . ."

Ena was very talkative again today. The topic, as always, was capsule figures; no other topic ever came up. In that regard she was quite the otaku.

He was going through the usual motions, reacting politely to Ena's comments, when someone kicked him in the leg. He winced—hadn't taken one in the shins in a while. Kanako must be angry again, he thought, but the kicking abruptly stopped. Things were calm for a bit, and then the backpack started tugging on his pants cuff. From inside he heard a sigh of exasperation.

"Tomoya-san?"

Ena was looking at him suspiciously. With a smile to put her off the scent, he slid the backpack under the table, away from his leg. He understood Kanako's impatience but the truth was, she was getting to be a pain.

"Sorry, it's nothing, I—"

"I-really-like-you-I-want-you-to-be-my-girlfriend-I-liked-you-from-the-start!"

This came bawling out of the backpack in a voice that carried through the whole coffee shop. Tomoya's mind went completely blank. He had no idea what to do. He tried to take a sip of coffee, didn't quite manage, and ended up choking mightily

Ena, however, was blushing for some reason, and nodding.

"Yes."

Tomoya, his shirt now emblazoned with coffee stains, stupidly replied,

"Huh?"