"By the way, Kobayashi, how could Kurashiki—"
Anshi followed Hayato out of the classroom, about to ask, How could Kurashiki speak up for you? But his words were cut off by a sweet voice.
Not far away, Nanao Akane was speaking with another girl. This girl was a little smaller, with short hair and a slightly rounded back. She was carrying a wooden case nearly as tall as herself, looking for all the world like a member of the music club.
Spotting Hayato, Akane waved brightly.
"You're out!" She quickly bowed to the girl and jogged over.
The short-haired girl continued on her way, the heavy case swaying as she walked.
"…What are you staring at?" Akane waved her hand in front of Hayato's eyes, then puffed her cheeks. "Looking at other women again, huh?"
"No," Hayato said flatly, averting his gaze.
"She's my senpai from the swimming club. These days she's also in the light music club," Akane explained offhandedly.
Light music club, huh. Hard not to think of K-ON… Too bad this is KoiHata's world. No Akiyama Mio here.
"Shall we go home together?" Akane asked, her violet eyes narrowing playfully. "You're not going to club today, are you?"
"Not today." Hayato glanced back at Anshi, who had promised to walk with him.
That guy suddenly spun around, pulled out his phone, and exclaimed, "What!? Something like that!? Okay, I'll be right there!" Then he jabbed the screen with a dramatic click.
"I've got urgent business! Can't go with you today!" And before Hayato could say anything, Anshi bolted.
Hayato: …
Bro, at least make the act more convincing. Your screen was still lit up, no call in progress.
With no energy to chase him, Hayato shoved his hands in his pockets and walked on. Akane quickly matched his pace.
"By the way, did that Yamamoto guy ever apologize to you?" she asked.
"…Huh? How do you know about that?"
"Hehe~ I just happened to overhear Kushiro and Kurashiki talking to him. Surprised?"
"And then?"
"Then I heard Kushiro say he'd bullied you before," Akane said, peeking up at his profile. Quiet and gentle as he looks, no way Hayato could've been bullied by someone like Yamamoto… right? "So I gave them an idea."
"What idea?"
"I told Kurashiki, since Yamamoto lied to her—and the reason he lied was because of you—it must mean Yamamoto really hates you. So why not make him beg for forgiveness?"
"At first Kurashiki didn't like it. But after thinking about it, forcing Yamamoto to apologize to someone he hated… sounded amusing to her. So she agreed. She even threatened him with her boyfriend." Akane shivered a little. "Wow… I never knew Kurashiki had such a scary boyfriend."
"You're turning into a delinquent girl," Hayato muttered.
"No I'm not! I was just standing up for you!" Akane puffed her cheeks, then straightened her chest proudly. "I'm still pure! And don't go thinking something weird like, 'Kurashiki made Yamamoto apologize… could she have fallen for me?' Got it!?"
She glared at him with wide eyes.
Hayato didn't think that way—but Anshi, if he were here, definitely would have.
"It wasn't Kurashiki. It was me. Remember that!" Akane insisted.
"…Oh."
"One more thing." Akane glanced sideways at him, voice dropping. "Is it true you used to like Kurashiki?"
"Seems so."
"Did you… confess?"
"I did."
Now that Kushiro Arisa—one of the witnesses—was acquainted with Akane, there was no point in hiding it.
"…I see." Akane's lips pushed into a tiny pout, a trace of sulkiness in her expression.
Hayato thought that would be the end of it. But a moment later she said softly, "So you're into the gyaru type, huh…"
Gyaru—fashionable, stylish girls. Akane fiddled with the ends of her own hair. She was athletic, attractive, no less than Kurashiki Reina, but she'd never had much interest in trendy makeup or fashion. Standing next to Kurashiki that day, she couldn't help but feel overshadowed by her glamorous aura.
Maybe I should change my look… try a Shibuya gyaru style?
"Not really," Hayato said.
"Still playing hard to get," Akane snorted. "You even confessed, though…"
"People can't dwell on the past forever," Hayato replied.
"…What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means that was then," he said simply. "After I confessed and she rejected me, I no longer had feelings for Kurashiki Reina."
"…You're such a playboy!" Akane puffed her cheeks, scolding him in words. Yet inside, her chest bloomed with a quiet, sweet warmth. After a pause, she asked softly, "Then… what kind of girl do you like now?"
"Short hair," Hayato answered without hesitation.
Akane's face instantly flushed scarlet. S-short… short hair… Among the girls connected to him—Kurashiki Reina, Miyajima Sakura, even Kushiro Arisa—there was really only one with short hair… She fiddled nervously with the ends of her own ear-length bob.
Confess… confess… confess!? No, don't be stupid, there's no way… no way he'd like me!
Her heart thumped wildly. Compared to a senior like Miyajima, or the glamorous Kurashiki, she had no qualities that stood out. And yet… this swelling anticipation in her chest refused to be hidden.
"A-and? What else?" Akane pressed, almost unconsciously pushing her palms against her own chest, trying to measure herself against his "type."
"Flat-chested," Hayato said calmly.
"…Eh!?"
Akane froze, fingertips grazing her chest. She was definitely not in that category—in fact, compared to her peers, she was on the fuller side.
"Sporty. And when she wears a skirt, safety shorts are a must," Hayato added thoughtfully. "It'd be even better if she could discharge electricity."
Akane: …
"W-who are you talking about?!" she stammered. It sounded way too specific.
"Misaka Mikoto," Hayato said without hesitation.
"…Who?" Akane tilted her head. Was that a classmate? Someone in another year?
"My ex-girlfriend," Hayato muttered, his face shadowed with pain. "But… she abandoned me. Ran off with a spiky-haired guy…"
His expression was so uncharacteristically raw that Akane faltered. She had never seen him like this before.
He… he really cared about her…
She wanted to comfort him, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, acting on instinct, she rushed forward and grabbed his right hand with both of hers, holding it tightly as if to declare something to the world.
"…Y-you'll definitely find someone much more suited for you!" she said, her violet eyes sparkling with conviction.
For a moment, she looked like she was announcing some earth-shaking truth.
Hayato, however, was stunned.
Oh no… Did I make that sound too unbelievable?
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/Kazenova223
If you guys wanna check it out.