Amanchu! (あまんちゅ!)

They came like a bolt from the blue.

O-o-ki-san.

Say, Ooki-san.

If you don't mind, would you join our group for the upcoming field trip?

How about it?

Okay...

Yay!

She said okay, Chizuru-chan!

Then let's get our shopping done on the way home today.

Okay...

Snack Heaven

Are you sure?

I thought you preferred being alone.

I can't decide!

If you eat half of something that costs 300 yen,

that means you only spent 150 yen, right?

Makes sense.

All of a sudden, I found that I now had

glittering, happy days full of fun and,

for the first time in my life,

friends that I cherished with all my heart.

Amanchu!

I told you it'd be hot outdoors this time of year.

"The Story of the Memories You Can't Erase"

It's such great weather.

Lunch with the zun directly above uz...

We have the bezt zeats in the houze!

Yeah, though it's a bit hot.

Whoop!

You can feel the coming of summer with every inch of your body.

Well, it is hot.

Cha...

Cha?

I make it a point to always photograph the wonderful things I encounter.

And when I look at the pictures,

no matter where I am,

I can remember exactly how I felt when I took them.

Saving

Each photograph

holds a precious memory I never want to forget.

And my phone displays one of them at random

each time I open it up.

Thanks to that,

I can see my prized treasures at any time.

You took another picture, Teko?

Y-Yeah.

You did say you make it a point to always photograph things dear to you.

Yeah.

In that case...

Come on.

Uh, I'm not done eating.

Come on!

Right away.

Gimme that for a sec, Teko-chin.

S-Sure.

Here.

Take a picture to mark this wonderful time we spent as the Diving Club.

I don't get to be in it?

Not that I mind.

Get closer!

Get clicking!

Okay, okay.

Cha!

Huh? Teko-chan.

It says the image memory is full.

See?

Oh, dear.

Looks like you can't save this picture unless you delete an older one.

Do I really have to delete something?

Oh, no.

If you move the image data to the memory card,

you'll be fine for the time being.

Move?

Then she'll be able take pictures until the card is full?

Yeah, but...

The random wallpaper only works with images in your phone's memory,

That's right.

I know.

Those pictures are

so keep that in mind.

nothing but data that you can move

or delete with the push of a button.

I always knew that...

But for some reason, I felt like the moment I had it spelled out to me,

something that was propping up my heart

came crashing down without a sound.

Wow, Teko-chin! You took enough pictures to max out the memory?

But this phone has a rather large capacity, doesn't it?

Memory is full. Do you want to delete another image?

That means she must've taken loads.

What's wrong, Teko?

Oh, nothing.

Sealers, Packers, and Movers

Akane-chan

Akane-chan?

How'd it go, Futaba-chan? Did you make it there all right?

Yeah.

I'm unpacking at our new place, as we speak.

Awesome.

What's it like? Can you see the ocean from there?

Oh, I haven't checked yet.

But it's really close.

Lucky you.

C-Come visit sometime!

I sure will.

I'll come hang out in Tokyo, too.

Sure.

Also, uh...

Hm?

I got the strap.

Oh, thank goodness.

I was worried you wouldn't get it in the midst of all the moving chaos.

No need to worry anymore. I did get it.

Happy birthday, Futaba-chan.

You remembered?

What? Why wouldn't I?

I'll take good care of it.

Good care? I hope you actually use it.

Chizuru-chan said

you were more likely to put it away somewhere and never use it.

Hello? Futaba-chan?

Y-Yeah?

Are you all right?

Sorry, you must be exhausted from all the moving.

Nah, I'm fine.

Deep down in my heart, I already know.

We won't get many chances to see one another or talk anymore.

Well, you see...

We'll gradually grow more distant...

There's nothing I can say.

All the words that come to mind are dripping with sadness.

Because this phone call we can't end is the crossroads where we part ways.

You see, Akane-chan...

Hm?

I know that whoever gets hung up on would be more scared.

But I also know that whoever hangs up would be in more pain.

Thank you...

for the birthday present...

The words of gratitude I finally mustered up

somehow feel like parting words instead.

And, even though I received such a wonderful gift,

I'm just so sad.

Teko?

Are you okay?

Yeah.

Lunch break's almost over.

Oh, yeah.

Let's do our best at club again today.

Sorry...

I'll be leaving first.

Okay...

Where's Teko-chin?

She left earlier by bike.

She was acting weird during club, too.

Does she not want to move the photos?

How should I say this?

I think those photos are very important to her.

They contain not only image data,

but also what she felt when she took them,

her memory of that moment,

and several other intangibles like that.

Ah, I see.

I get what you're saying.

I totally get it.

Hey, you also keep loads of pointless stuff!

Whether it's pointless or not is for the owner to decide...

Quiet!

I found your locker filled to the brim the other day, too!

Teko's shiny treasure box

got filled to the brim, huh?

Big Sis-senpai! Little Bro-senpai!

May I have some of your time tomorrow?

My past self...

The person I was

until I met Akane-chan and Chizuru-chan in junior high

would always be surrounded by people

but would never be with them.

I was just there.

A hollow existence that did nothing but exist.

Image Folder Images

But it all changed in a flash.

For the first time, I talked to someone until late at night.