"Ugh… let's just head back quickly. It's getting quite late…"
Ai stopped Hiko from continuing. Just now, she had felt apologetic towards him, which was why she changed clothes, partly to satisfy him.
But after hearing his praise, she wanted to hear more.
She was about to make another promise, but then she sobered up. Their conversation was getting too ambiguous. A rush of awkwardness and shame hit her, and she reached out to push Hiko, who was within arm's reach. "I'm going back first…"
After speaking, Ai didn't even check on Hiko. She just grabbed her schoolbag and fled the scene that made her feel so embarrassed.
Hiko never expected that Ai, who had just asked him to speak his mind, would push him away the next second. The sudden push sent him stumbling backward and falling to the ground. His butt hurt from the fall, and he let out a sharp yelp.
By then Ai had already reached the classroom door. Hearing his cry, she looked back, but instead of saying anything, she jogged out.
"Was I disliked?" Using a chair to pull himself up, Hiko rubbed his sore spot, confused. "She told me to speak, but then she ambushed me like that…"
Patting the dust off his clothes, Hiko looked resentfully at the classroom door.
'Was Ai teasing me?' He had thought that even if the atmosphere wasn't great, things wouldn't end this way.
After school, in a classroom, just the two of them—her changing clothes… he hadn't thought of it like that.
At least it wasn't an argument leading to an unhappy parting. If she really was teasing him, that meant she still cared.
That thought was enough for him to comfort himself as he left the classroom.
"Wah!"
Ai ambushed him at the door. The moment she saw him walk out, she jumped forward and yelled.
Startled, Hiko flinched, ready to punch the source of the noise. But seeing it was Ai, he quickly held back and instead clutched his chest. "You almost scared me to death."
"Hehe~" Ai looked very pleased with herself.
"Didn't you say you were going back first?" Hiko noticed she had already put on her gray-black jacket again.
"We'd already made up. It wouldn't be right to end today like an argument." Ai explained after laughing for a while.
Hiko watched her laugh at how easily he was scared, and reached out to pinch her cheek.
But Ai had already predicted he'd try something. She stepped back, dodging easily, and teased, "Hiko-kun, you're not angry, are you?"
His temper flared, but he couldn't bring himself to retaliate. Forcing a smile, he gritted his teeth. "No."
"If Hiko-kun is angry, I can apologize~" Ai tilted her head with a slightly apologetic look.
Her playful tone only irritated him more, but admitting it would make him seem narrow-minded.
"Never mind, let's just go back." Hiko waved her off, not wanting to hear more strange words.
"I'm sorry." Ai bowed ninety degrees.
"You don't have to do that. I'm not angry." Seeing her bow so suddenly, Hiko quickly said and scratched his head awkwardly.
"If we're too stiff with each other, it'll be uncomfortable."
"Is that so?" Ai touched her lips with her finger, rolling her eyes in thought. "I've never made friends before, so I don't know how they're supposed to interact."
"Friends just… talk freely. Say whatever comes to mind."
Hiko tried to explain, though he was distracted, sneaking glances at her pale calves beneath the skirt.
"It's so cold…" Ai muttered. Ever since she'd changed, she felt chilly. Yet other girls she saw never seemed to mind.
"If you're cold, change back into pants." Hiko noticed her shivering.
He shifted closer to shield her from the wind. "If you wear a skirt tomorrow, I suggest tights. White ones are best, black ones work too. Even thick over-the-knee socks are fine… but with knee-highs, if the wind blows, it'll still be cold."
"…You seem to know a lot about this." Ai clutched her skirt, listening to his endless talk about socks.
"No, not really. Just my opinion." Hiko smiled awkwardly.
But Ai didn't wait for him to explain. She jogged straight to the changing room.
This time she came out quickly.
"Sportswear is still the most comfortable," Ai said, tugging her sleeve.
Hiko first escorted her back to her place before returning home alone.
Once home, he turned on his computer and opened the email from the detective.
Inside were profiles of people.
Taichi Koishikawa (Male), 25 years old
Graduated from Yoto Performing Arts Academy, entered the entertainment industry… Contact:…
Shigeo Yoshida (Male), 19 years old
Currently studying at Kyoto University. Works performed include…
One by one, the names and faces flashed before Hiko. He carefully recorded the data.
The file contained one hundred people in total, each with three photos, plus personal details, background, performances, companies, even contact info.
For a country like Japan, this was already borderline invasion of privacy.
Just the fact that each profile had three recent photos was incredible.
But after reading everything, Hiko didn't feel any of the men were particularly handsome.
At best, they weren't ugly. The actresses, on the other hand, looked decent enough.
'Am I just bad at spotting male charm points?' The thought made him frown.
If he really couldn't tell, the whole screening process would be a pain.
But then again, maybe none of these men were all that good-looking to begin with. At least, not better looking than him.
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