Maki and Momo Nishimiya stood quietly a short distance away, watching Mai Zenin and Akutagawa Shang embrace.
Maki had come looking for someone. Tokyo Jujutsu High had been planning a celebration, but Akutagawa Shang had gone out to buy drinks and still had not returned. So she had volunteered to find him and bring him back.
She pushed open the door and followed the path toward the drink vending machines.
But before she found Akutagawa Shang, Maki ran into someone else she had not expected to see.
Momo Nishimiya was walking ahead of her, looking around as though she were searching for someone too.
Momo Nishimiya turned, spotted Maki, and walked over to her.
"What are you doing here too? Didn't you Tokyo people go off to celebrate?" Momo Nishimiya asked casually, looking at Maki.
"I'm looking for someone. You?" Maki made no attempt to hide it.
"Same."
After talking for a while, she learned that Mai Zenin was missing too.
When Mai Zenin failed to return, Kyoto Jujutsu High had sent Momo Nishimiya to look for her.
Since they had the same goal, and Momo Nishimiya was not very familiar with Tokyo Jujutsu High's layout, they decided they might as well go together.
And so the two followed the path, searching along the way.
They reached the drink vending machines just in time to witness this scene.
Dusk blanketed the steps, and Mai and Akutagawa Shang stood embracing beneath it.
Maki and Momo Nishimiya stopped in their tracks and held their breath, staring blankly as the pair's faces drew closer-and met.
The next second, Mai slowly brought her lips toward him and kissed Akutagawa Shang on the cheek.
When he realized she had kissed him without warning, he froze on the spot as though struck by lightning.
His face