I called it last chapter, he really did assemble the "harem" at the usual hangout. Just what I wanted.
"What counts as a true loner, anyway...?"
Certainly not you, that's for sure.
Those are some rather prickly words from Mashiro. I can almost feel the raw jealousy oozing from every letter. So she's the scary type when she's mad. You'd think the flashy "gyaru" would be the loud leader in any conversation, but Ruri was amusingly overshadowed by the two other girls who dominated the conversation.
I liked the detail that Mashiro just knew he and Sora were keeping some important details out, and y'know what... even if she was being sarcastic, I'd say that unironically sounded like good advice: if they do start dating (even a stereotypical fake relationship might work) it solves a whole bunch of problems. No more need to dispel rumors, and he gets to have a taste of some of that love he dreamed of in chapter 1. If they do dispel the rumors, conversely that makes it harder for romantic progress to happen between Hodaka and Sora...
Sora might take a bit of a social hit for dating who seemed to be a gloomy outcast, but hey - she already had her fill of high school life before, maybe she could stand to experience something different this time around. It's not like she hates him, nor is she looking for someone else to date this time around. That school trip episode of theirs was already a date in all but name and both of them enjoyed it.
I hope this isn't the last the four of them will meet there. This could be a great friend group.