Thursday.
Hiko still had to browse information on his computer and select suitable people to include in the files at night, so when he arrived at school, many students were already in the classroom.
He also saw Ai at her desk, engrossed in a book.
"Morning." Hiko greeted her.
"Mm." Ai responded and continued reading.
Hiko walked back to his seat, pulled out his chair, and sat down, casually hanging his portable book bag on the side of the desk.
He eagerly reached into his desk, searching.
Nothing.
No bento box.
His desk was much the same as when he had left it last night; he casually took out the book he needed for the first class.
The book with "Science" written on it was placed on his desk.
Hiko opened his textbook to the page where the teacher had last left off.
But as soon as he flipped it open, a pink envelope tucked inside was revealed.
Hiko couldn't help but glance at Ai.
It couldn't be her letter, could it?
No bento, but a letter instead?
Hiko had originally wanted to exchange information with Ai, but he remembered yesterday, when inquiring about the bento in the desk had led to Ai being exposed, making her feel embarrassed and unwilling to make him bento anymore.
It was better not to ask this time; he would read the content first.
Hiko opened the envelope.
The letter read:
(I apologize for presumptuously writing to you and disturbing your valuable time. I hope you will not be angry because of this. If you have time, please come to the rooftop after school today. If you can make it, I would be extremely grateful…)
Hiko read to the end and then glanced at Ai again.
The handwriting on the letter was graceful, from a girl's hand... It wasn't a prank by a boy.
Hiko quickly stopped his thoughts.
As long as it wasn't a prank, anyone was fine.
He silently marked this unsigned letter as Ai's.
Why would she write this letter? Because she was shy? Or because...?
Although he tried to suppress the thoughts in his mind, he still couldn't help but ponder.
"Ai, I have something to do after school today, so I won't be able to tutor you." Hiko tried to strike up a conversation to divert his attention.
"What is it?" Ai looked at Hiko, tilting her head in confusion.
"Someone might have asked me out." Hiko learned his lesson and didn't try to extract information from Ai to avoid knowing the real truth, but he still habitually asked.
"Who asked you out?" Ai was completely unaware of this and also curious about who wanted to meet Hiko.
"I don't know who the date is." Hiko stared at Ai's face, trying to discern any unusual expression.
"Could it be a confession from a girl?" Ai guessed.
It was reasonable. Her inquiry and expression showed no flaws.
"The person who wrote the letter might have very beautiful handwriting; look at this handwriting and the phrasing..." Hiko tried to praise her to the "person herself." "Maybe it's a cute girl?"
"Clear handwriting... beautiful..." Ai repeated in a murmur, then asked, "If a girl really confessed to you, would you accept her?"
"I might consider it first, then make a decision." Hiko didn't answer directly, to avoid stimulating Ai prematurely and messing things up again.
But he still couldn't help but say, "If the person confessing is very pretty, I might not think too much and just accept her confession."
"Well... I wish you luck..." Ai offered a blessing, then focused on her book, no longer paying attention to Hiko. She was displeased with Hiko's answer.
"What's wrong?" Hiko felt a bit strange and asked.
"Nothing." Ai answered curtly.
Hiko tried to chat with Ai again, but after that, she didn't really respond.
She only used words like, "Mm," "Oh," "I know," "Yes," to answer Hiko's questions, and she didn't ask any questions herself.
Was she building up her emotions? But was it necessary to ignore him?
They would be "frank with each other" soon.
Hiko wanted to pursue the details and talk to Ai, but he remembered how she had also been very calm, even leisurely, before she was exposed yesterday.
Thinking of this, Hiko gave up pondering.
…
After school, when the bell rang, Haru, who was in the front row, left the classroom and headed to the rooftop.
She found the person who had the rooftop key, borrowed it, opened the rooftop door, and then hid in the small space behind the door, waiting for Hiko to arrive.
"I'm going ahead to practice." Ai also greeted Hiko as Haru left the classroom, deliberately telling him her plans.
"Okay, I'll be there right away." Hiko replied, still thinking that the person who wrote the letter was Ai.
Watching Ai leave the classroom,
Hiko tidied up his things a bit before heading to the rooftop.
He opened the iron door to the rooftop and walked in.
The view ahead was empty.
"Strange, didn't Ai leave first? Where is she?"
Hiko felt something was off, but before he could even think about what was happening, he saw someone emerge from the shadows on the rooftop.
"Saito-kun, I'm glad you could make it." Haru walked over and first expressed her joy to Hiko, then continued, "I've been... observing Saito-kun for a long time... and that's when I fell in love with Saito-kun..."
"Saito-kun! I like you, please go out with me!" Haru finished speaking and bowed ninety degrees to Hiko, expressing the deep affection hidden in her heart, as well as her humility.
The girl confessing was not Ai, which left Hiko a bit stunned.
Facing such a solemn confession, Hiko tried hard to think of a way to reject her without hurting her feelings.
"I'm very happy to hear you say you like me."
Hiko carefully chose his words and continued, "But I've liked someone for a long time, and I will only ever like her. Therefore, I can't accept your feelings. I'm truly sorry, and I'm very grateful for your affection for me."
Haru only heard "can't accept your feelings," and tears began to fall from the corners of her eyes. He already had someone he liked... The girl sobbed as she ran down the stairs from the rooftop.
As she ran down the stairs, she saw a familiar figure—Hoshino Ai.
But at that moment, she had no mind to think about it. She had just been rejected and wanted to find Sayuri to comfort and guide her.
"Sigh..." Hiko walked down the stairs with a feeling of loss, having expected it to be Ai.
He hadn't thought it through; there was a surprise, but it wasn't the surprise he had hoped for... Next time he encountered a similar situation, he should think more.
Otherwise, it wouldn't be so awkward.
Hiko casually closed the iron door to the rooftop and went downstairs. As soon as he reached the bottom of the stairs, he saw Ai.
Didn't she leave first? Why was she here now?
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