After handing the bread to Gabriel, Hayashi Maki took out his phone and, striking while the iron was hot, messaged Katsura Kotonoha, whom he'd just met.
With a girl who has no friends and is on the shy side, you have to show extra care—and be patient.
Katsura attended Shinya Academy: a mid-tier school, a notch below Mizutaka High, and the default choice for ordinary students. Mizutaka was more like a feeder for vocational universities, while Shinya grads tended to be average across the board—proof that something was off; most students didn't put their hearts into studying. As for why an honors student like Katsura didn't transfer, it was probably tied to her family.
(If Hayashi Maki's guess was right and he would "time-slip" later to intercept Saionji Youko, then with his personality he certainly wouldn't let Katsura Manami off the hook either.)
…Back to the point.
Hayashi Maki started with a tentative message:
Hayashi Maki: "Katsura-san, are you there?"
Seeing it, Katsura felt nervous, but excited. It was the first time a boy had messaged her. Blushing, she glanced around and replied right away.
Katsura: "I'm here, Hayashi-san. I've reached my classroom."
Hayashi Maki: "Good—glad you made it safely. Also… Katsura-san, you really are beautiful."
First a little sigh, then a straight-up compliment.
Katsura's cheeks went bright red. If she'd only suspected it before, now she was almost certain: as an old classmate, Hayashi-san must have feelings for her—maybe even a long-time crush. Who else compliments a girl he just met like that?
Katsura: "Um… you flatter me… A-and Hayashi-san is very handsome."
The moment she hit send, her heart thumped like a startled fawn. Had she just admitted she liked how he looked? That's how it goes between boys and girls: first you like what you see, then you keep talking, and go deeper from there.
While she waited, tense, Hayashi Maki smiled at her reply. Being handsome helped; you left a good first impression. Who isn't a little face-biased?
Hayashi Maki: "Haha, thanks for the compliment. Since I'm handsome, Katsura-san, don't you dare forget your grade-school classmate this time."
Katsura: "I won't! I won't forget Hayashi-san."
Hayashi Maki: "Good. By the way, have you heard the latest trend?"
Katsura: "Eh? What is it?"
In truth, she hadn't. With no friends, no one chatted with her about current topics or gossip.
Hayashi Maki: "They say if you like someone, take a photo of them and set it as your phone wallpaper. If they don't notice for a month, the two of you might end up dating."
Katsura: "Eh!!! There's… a thing like that? It's my first time hearing it."
Hayashi Maki: "Want me to send you a picture? I am a handsome guy. If you use me as your lock screen, your friends will be jealous."
At that, her face went nuclear red. Was he hinting he wanted to date her? They'd just met! So fast?
Still, she had no friends—no one would see her lock screen to "be jealous" anyway, and she wouldn't show her phone off.
Hayashi Maki: "Haha, I'm kidding. Don't think I'm shallow. I just want to remind you—you're so pretty, be careful not to get secretly photographed."
Warmth spread through her heart. She craved friends and care; there was no one at school to talk to, and her mother was always busy. Her little sister, though mature beyond her years, was someone she didn't want to burden. Everything stayed bottled up.
And now, here was a handsome boy, steadily showing concern. How could she not be moved?
Katsura: "Mm, I understand. Thank you for the reminder, Hayashi-san. I'll be careful."
Hayashi Maki: "Really? Then don't go easy on a creeper just because he 'looks okay.' Secret photography is wrong, and anyone acting on a rumor like that isn't a decent person."
Katsura: "I understand."
Being secretly filmed would make her uneasy and upset too—who knew what someone might do with her photo?
Hayashi Maki: "By the way—how are your grades?"
He suddenly steered the topic to academics. She was puzzled, but happy to keep chatting.
Katsura: "Upper-middle, I guess. I was 3rd in class on the last monthly exam."
Hayashi Maki: "Not bad. I'm first in my year. Looks like we're both solid students—how about a study session sometime? Different schools, but plenty of material overlaps."
Katsura: "Okay."
Before, studying was just to pass time and fulfill her mother's expectations. With someone to study with, she'd love that.
Hayashi Maki: "Settled then. I'll call and come pick you up. Don't ghost me."
Katsura: "I won't. I'll answer."
…Come pick her up? A "study session," or was that a date?
Hayashi Maki: "Did you bring a bento today?"
While she was still blushing, he pivoted to food.
Katsura: "I did."
Hayashi Maki: "Did you make it yourself?"
Katsura: "My little sister did."
Hayashi Maki: "Really? Then your sister must be adorable."
Katsura: "Why do you think that?"
Hayashi Maki: "I can tell from you—Katsura-san, you're a gentle person. A girl who makes lunch for such a gentle, beautiful big sister must be gentle and cute herself."
Katsura: "She is—my sister's very cute."
Her cheeks burned; her heart sped up. It felt wonderful to be noticed and cared for in all these little ways. At her loneliest, most stifled moment, a handsome, kind-voiced boy had suddenly stepped into her world. For the first time, her heart fluttered.
~~~
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