Being introduced to Sato-san Akane felt less like a casual greeting and more like being identified by the lead investigator at a crime scene. Her eyes, sharp and intelligent, seemed to strip away my carefully constructed (and failing) facade of casual confidence. "Sakura's... very close friend" – the way she emphasized 'very close friend' left no doubt about where her loyalties lay and her potential suspicion of anyone encroaching on Sakura-san's space. Especially someone like me.
Sakura-san's smile didn't falter, but I felt her shift almost imperceptibly closer to me. It was a small gesture, probably meant to reinforce the 'couple' image, but in that moment, facing Akane-san's intense gaze, it felt like she was drawing strength from the pretense, or maybe even offering a tiny bit of genuine solidarity.
"Akane, this is Tanaka Hiroshi-kun," Sakura-san said smoothly, her voice calm and even. "Hiroshi-kun, this is Sato Akane-san, one of my oldest and dearest friends." The contrast between Sakura-san's warm introduction and Akane-san's frosty demeanor was stark.
Akane-san didn't extend a hand. She just kept looking at me, her eyes narrowed slightly. It was unnerving. It was like she was waiting for me to crack, to stumble over my words and expose the whole elaborate charade.
"Tanaka-kun," Akane-san said, her voice low and serious, completely lacking the lightness of typical high school chatter. "Sakura hasn't mentioned you before. It's... surprising... to see you two suddenly so close."
My stomach did another clenching motion. Sudden. That was the key word. Our "repeated coincidences" story didn't exactly explain going from zero to holding hands at the gate overnight.
I fumbled for words. "Uh, well, it was... kind of sudden, I guess. We just... clicked?" Nailed it again, Hiroshi. Eloquence personified.
Akane-san's expression remained unchanged. Unimpressed. "Clicked," she repeated flatly. She glanced at Sakura-san, then back at me. "Sakura is very important to me. Her happiness is important. I hope you understand that."
It wasn't just a statement; it was a thinly veiled warning. Don't mess this up. Don't hurt her. And don't think I'm not watching.
"Yes, Akane," Sakura-san interjected gently, stepping slightly forward. "Tanaka-kun understands. He's very kind." She placed a hand lightly on my arm, another subtle reinforcement for Akane-san's benefit.
Akane-san's gaze lingered on Sakura-san's hand on my arm for a moment before flicking back to my eyes. She seemed to be searching for something – a tell, a lie, a flicker of insincerity.
"Are you joining a club together?" Akane-san asked, switching tactics. A more direct question, probing for a shared interest.
"Well," Sakura-san began, but I jumped in, remembering our cover story roots.
"We're both members of the Classic Literature & Film Society," I said, hoping it sounded natural. "That's actually where we... well, we realized we had a lot in common." This wasn't our 'coincidences' story, but it was the club link, which was tangentially true. Consistency issue number one. Great.
Akane-san's eyebrows raised, just a fraction. "The Classic Literature & Film Society? Really, Sakura? Since when are you interested in... dusty books and old movies?" Her tone was skeptical, almost dismissive of the club itself.
Sakura-san's smile tightened again, but she kept her voice light. "I've had a quiet interest for a while, Akane. And Hiroshi-kun's passion is quite infectious." She looked at me, and for a moment, the way she said 'passion' made me feel a flicker of pride, even if it was part of the act.
Akane-san studied Sakura-san, then me, for a long moment. The silence felt heavy. She wasn't buying it, or at least, she wasn't convinced.
Finally, she gave a slow, deliberate nod. It didn't feel like acceptance. It felt like she was filing away information, planning her next move.
"I see," she said, her voice still low. "Well. It was... interesting... meeting you, Tanaka-kun. I'm sure we'll be seeing more of each other." The implication was clear: she'd be watching.
"Yes, Akane," Sakura-san said, her tone firm but polite, signaling the end of the conversation. "See you around."
Akane-san gave one last, penetrating look at me, then turned and walked away, back towards her friends' table. The tension in the air only dissipated slightly after she was gone.
I let out the breath I hadn't realized I was holding. "Wow," I breathed. "Your friend is... intense."
Sakura-san sighed, the act finally dropping. She rubbed her temples briefly. "That went... about as well as I expected. Akane is very protective. She's been suspicious of anyone getting close to me unless she's vetted them herself."
"And I definitely have not been vetted," I stated, the obvious truth. "She knows something's off."
"She suspects something," Sakura-san corrected. "She doesn't know. We just need to be careful. Extra careful around her. We need our story to be completely consistent." She gave me a pointed look. "Coincidences lead to destiny. And we both have a quiet passion for classic literature and film."
"Right. Got it," I nodded, trying to burn the two (slightly conflicting) cover stories into my brain.
"Okay," she said, her energy returning, switching back to planning mode. "So, lunch in the cafeteria is done. Hand-holding at the gate is done. Next... we need a slightly longer period of being seen together outside of school. To make it seem less like a 'school-only' thing. How about... walking home together tomorrow?"
My legs felt suddenly heavy. Walking home? That could take thirty minutes or more. Thirty minutes of pretending, under the potential gaze of anyone from school who happened to be taking the same route, or anyone in the neighborhood.
"Walking home?" I repeated, my voice small.
"Yes," she confirmed, looking at her notebook. "It's a natural progression. We can talk about school, the club, anything. Just... exist as a couple. Casually."
Casually existing as a fake couple with Sakura Yamato. Easier said than done. Especially now that Akane Sato was apparently on 'Operation Expose The Fake Boyfriend.'
"Okay," I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Walking home tomorrow. Got it. Is there a specific route we should take? For maximum 'casual existence'?"
Sakura-san actually smiled, a genuine, amused smile again. "We'll take the main road towards the station for a bit, then maybe cut through the park? It's a nice route. And if anyone from school sees us, even better."
Great. A scenic route for my public performance anxiety.
"Alright," I said, resignation setting in. "Tomorrow. Walking home. The scenic route of awkwardness."
Sakura-san chuckled softly. "Don't worry, Tanaka-kun. We can just... talk. It won't be that bad. Probably."
That 'probably' didn't make me feel better. But as I looked at her, standing there in the afternoon sun, looking determined yet slightly vulnerable, I knew I was going to do it. For the club. And... well, maybe just because saying no to Sakura Yamato felt utterly impossible.