Chapter 175: This Person Looks So Familiar...
"Want to?" Yuto asked with a smile as Airi's cheeks flushed with a charming blush.
"Mm, I want to."
In an instant, the warm, sweet atmosphere pervading the room quietly shifted, becoming something that made the heart pound.
In the blink of an eye, it was morning. Yuto had returned from his morning run. Passing through the apartment's small courtyard, he picked up the food container that Chabashira had left at some point and brought it inside.
At this time, Airi finally emerged from the soft, comfortable room with a lazy yawn. Rubbing her sore waist, she went back to her own room to wash up, combed her slightly messy fiery-red hair, and tied it into a simple, plain ponytail.
When Airi came out of her own room's bathroom, Yuto had already washed off the sweat from his morning run. Fresh and clean, he smilingly greeted her.
"Airi, good morning."
"Morning." Airi gave Yuto a shy yet sweet smile, and the two went to the dining room together to eat the breakfast Chabashira had prepared for them.
Airi sat on Yuto's lap, wiggling her plump buttocks to find a more comfortable position. Then she said, "Yuto, let's go out at noon."
"Why?"
"My waist is still a bit sore. I probably can't walk too much," Airi answered softly.
Yuto raised his eyebrows. "Is it because I was too rough last night?"
"I'm not blaming you or anything," Airi said in a soft, coquettish tone. Her tone was like she was acting coy, making Yuto want to carry her back to the room and dote on her all over again.
Since Airi didn't want to go out immediately because of her sore waist, Yuto simply stayed home with her and watched TV.
For Airi, it didn't really matter whether their date took place on a bustling street or inside the peaceful apartment. As long as Yuto was beside her, it was already the best kind of date.
By around eleven, Airi had recovered her energy, and her soft, slender waist was no longer so sore, so the two began preparing to get lunch.
Before leaving the detached apartment, however, Airi needed to disguise Yuto—and make sure they wouldn't easily be recognized as a couple.
Airi was shy around people and disliked unnecessary trouble, so she didn't want others discovering her relationship with Yuto.
Yuto had no objection.
He was already used to it.
Even before enrolling at this school, the two of them had often disguised themselves whenever they went on dates.
"Yuto, what color do you want your hair this time?" Airi asked.
"You choose. You're the one going out with me, so pick whichever color you like."
"All right~"
Airi enthusiastically selected the gold temporary hair-color spray and immediately got to work.
Using temporary hair-color spray too frequently could leave hair dry, rough, split, or lacking its usual shine.
The main reason was the brightening pearl powder used in the spray. It formed a highly reflective layer over the surface of the hair, creating the appearance of a different color.
So it wasn't something that should be used constantly.
Once every couple of weeks, however, was perfectly manageable.
This wasn't Airi's first time using it on Yuto, so her movements were natural and practiced.
Little by little, his jet-black hair transformed into a brilliant golden color reminiscent of sunlight.
Airi's eyes practically sparkled when she saw the finished result.
With black hair, Yuto gave off a refreshing, clean impression.
With blond hair, however, he seemed elegant and dazzling, almost like a refined young noble.
Completely captivated, Airi suddenly stood up. "Yuto, wait here! I'm getting the digital camera. I want to take a few pictures!"
"Pictures again... Just please don't make me change clothes over and over afterward," Yuto said with a helpless smile.
Airi didn't have many hobbies, but photography was one of them.
And her favorite subject was Yuto.
Sometimes she would dress him in different outfits and happily photograph him for hours.
Once inspiration struck, Airi seemed to gain endless stamina, to the point where Yuto himself would eventually be exhausted.
So right now, he could only hope she intended to take a few photos rather than turn this into another full outfit-changing session.
Yuto picked up the nearby mirror and examined himself.
While applying the temporary hair-color spray, Airi had also adjusted his hairstyle, so he already looked noticeably different.
"Airi's still really good at this. Someone who doesn't know me well probably wouldn't recognize me, right?" he murmured.
His hair color and hairstyle had both changed, and once he added a beret and a pair of clear-lens glasses, his overall appearance was completely transformed.
Even people familiar with Yuto would have difficulty recognizing him immediately.
Airi returned with her digital camera, her smile growing increasingly enthusiastic as she began snapping photo after photo.
She had only taken a little over thirty pictures when the camera suddenly started beeping.
"Hm?"
Airi checked it and discovered that the memory card was full.
"No storage left..."
"Then swap the card. Didn't the camera come with several?"
"They're all full~" Airi admitted with an embarrassed expression, sticking out her tongue slightly. "I kept meaning to sort through them, but I always forgot."
"Then let's just go out. I'll buy you another memory card."
"Mm. I guess that's easiest."
Sorting through the existing cards would take time. She would need to decide which photos to keep and which to delete.
Since they were already going out on a date and weren't exactly short on points, buying another card was much easier.
Airi put away the digital camera Yuto had bought for her, then left the apartment with him.
She didn't need any disguise herself.
Unlike Yuto, hardly anyone at school recognized her. Even among her own classmates, only a handful had much impression of the quiet, nearly invisible Sakura Airi.
Their rough plan for the day was simple: eat lunch at a restaurant, watch a movie, then visit the fortune-teller at Keyaki Mall.
So for now, they headed toward one of the restaurants there.
...
At that same moment, Kei, dressed casually for the weekend, was hanging out with her usual group of female friends at an outdoor café.
The girls chatted and laughed noisily around the table.
Kei rested her cheek against one hand.
'What is Yuto doing right now?'
Her gaze drifted toward the fifth floor of Keyaki Mall, where the increasingly popular fortune-telling shop was located.
'I really want to go there with Yuto at least once... Hm?'
Something suddenly caught her attention, and Kei straightened in her chair.
Even though it was the weekend and Keyaki Mall was crowded with students, her eyes immediately locked onto two people entering the shopping center.
A boy and a girl.
Both somehow felt familiar.
"That girl is Sakura Airi from our class, right?" Kei murmured.
Since Airi hadn't disguised herself much, Kei recognized her quickly.
Then Kei focused on the blond boy beside her.
He was handsome and carried himself with an elegant air.
And yet...
Why did Kei feel as though this blond boy was her boyfriend, Yuto?!
"Everyone, excuse me for a minute. I'm going to the restroom."
Kei abruptly stood.
The more she looked, the more Airi's companion resembled Yuto, and she wanted to get closer to confirm it.
"I'll go with you, Kei," Chiaki said, standing as well.
"Mm."
Kei hurried away from the group, with Chiaki quickly following.
Chiaki looked strangely at Kei's hurried pace.
Did she really need the restroom that badly?
And besides...
"Kei, the restroom is the other way."
"I want to look at something first."
"Hm?"
Completely confused, Chiaki followed Kei to the railing overlooking the lower floor.
Kei stared down at Yuto and Airi.
Chiaki followed her gaze and realized Kei was intently watching a handsome blond boy.
She immediately teased, "You rushed over here just to look at some handsome guy? Kei, don't forget you already have a boyfriend."
"What are you talking about? Of course I know I have a boyfriend. I'm not interested in any boy except Yuto. It's just that..." Kei lightly bit her glossy lip.
She simply felt that this blond boy was Yuto.
Then her gaze shifted toward Airi.
That nearly invisible girl from their class was smiling brightly at the blond boy beside her.
Her smile was dazzling.
Just from that smile alone, Kei could tell how much Airi liked him.
Because Kei smiled exactly the same way whenever she was with Yuto.
She fell into thought, remembering several small details she had previously ignored.
Yuto's lunches...
Kei vaguely remembered that Airi also brought homemade food, and the containers she and Yuto brought seemed to be the same style.
That alone seemed enough to suggest some kind of connection between them.
Kei pulled out her phone and opened Yuto's contact.
All she had to do was call him.
If the blond boy below answered at the same time, she would basically know whether he really was Yuto.
But then a memory surfaced.
'Kei, I actually already have a girlfriend.'
She remembered Yuto saying those words when she confessed to him on the rooftop.
Kei bit her lip slightly.
The phone in her hand slowly lowered.
She no longer wanted to call.
"L-Let's go. We should head to the restroom."
"Mm."
Chiaki glanced at Kei, whose mood had visibly dropped.
At that moment, a sweet voice reached them.
"Ah~ Karuizawa-san, Matsushita-san! What a coincidence!"
Kei looked over and saw Kushida Kikyo walking toward them with Onodera Kayano and Ichihashi Ruri.
Kikyo wore her usual sweet smile.
"What a coincidence. You're shopping here too?" Kei replied somewhat flatly.
"Hm?"
Kikyo looked at her suspiciously.
With her sharp social instincts, she immediately noticed that Kei's mood was strange.
She was also slightly surprised.
Kikyo had assumed Yuto would be spending today with Kei.
After all, she and Yuto had already agreed to visit the fortune-telling shop on Sunday, so she had naturally assumed Saturday belonged to Kei.
But Kei was here with Chiaki instead.
So Yuto hadn't invited Kei today.
Chiaki smiled toward Kikyo. "Kushida, you still don't have a boyfriend, right? Want me to introduce you to a handsome guy?"
"N-No thanks. I don't plan on dating during my three years of high school. I'm going to focus on studying," Kikyo replied sweetly with her hands clasped together.
"Really? What a shame. That guy was handsome enough that Kei actually ran over here to get a better look."
"Hey!" Kei glared at Chiaki. "Stop making things up! I only thought he looked familiar!"
"Handsome enough to make Karuizawa-san run over?" Kikyo immediately became interested. "Now I'm curious too. Where is he? Let me see."
"He's down there. But I'm telling you, I did not come over because he's handsome!" Kei emphasized as she pointed toward the restaurant below.
"Mm-hmm~"
Full of curiosity, Kikyo followed Kei's finger.
Then she saw the blond boy sitting beside Airi.
"Hm?"
The moment Kikyo spotted him, her brows drew together slightly.
Confusion flickered through her eyes.
Why did that blond boy...
Look so familiar?
…
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