But because of Akako Koizumi's words, Sonoko suddenly found herself looking forward to it. If that really was the case, then all the better.
"Sonoko, can I come too?" Ran Mouri asked Sonoko.
"Of course you can, Ran. You're my good friend." Sonoko put an arm around Ran's shoulders.
"What about me? Could Sonoko invite me along as well?" Akako Koizumi asked Sonoko.
"Mm, I don't mind. If you want to come, Akako, then come with us." Sonoko's relationship with Akako was fairly good now too.
"I don't think I ever said I agreed to go," Chen said as he looked at the girls.
"Ah, so you're planning not to go?" Sonoko asked Chen.
"No, of course I'm going. After all, it's an invitation from Mrs. Suzuki." Chen smiled.
"Whew! I thought you weren't going." Sonoko let out a sigh of relief, then rolled her eyes at Chen.
Chen agreed to go because he also wanted to know why Tomoko Suzuki had sought him out. Chen had curiosity too, after all.
"But it's only Tuesday. The weekend is still a long way off." Chen remembered that today was only Tuesday.
"Mm, I'm just telling you in advance. It's settled this early, so you absolutely can't back out." Sonoko said to Chen.
If Chen suddenly said he was not going when the day came, that would not do. How was she supposed to explain it to her mother?
"Don't worry. I'll definitely go when the time comes." Chen nodded.
Just then, the class bell rang. Sonoko reminded Chen once more before returning to her seat.
Chen was speechless. It was still so far away—did she really need to remind him this early?
After school, since they lived in different directions, Chen and Ran could not go home together.
"See you, Ran."