"Hey, Kobayashi, how'd Kurashiki end up—"
Anji chased after Satoru, about to ask why Rena was defending him, when a sweet feminine voice cut him off.
Nearby, Akane was chatting with a petite, short-haired girl. Her back was rounded, facing Satoru. Spotting him, Akane waved. "You're out!" She bowed to the girl and jogged over.
The girl, lugging a wooden case as big as herself—probably a guitar case—ambled off. Music club?
"Yo, what're you staring at?" Akane waved a slender hand in Satoru's face, pouting. "Checking out another girl, huh?"
Satoru blinked. "Nah."
"She's my old swim club senpai, now in the light music club," Akane said casually.
Light music club? Reminded him of K-On!, but this was Rihama's doujin world—no Mio Akiyama here. Shame.
"Walk home together?" Akane's deep purple eyes curved. "…You're skipping club, right?"
"Yup, not today." Satoru glanced at Anji, his appointed buddy.
Anji spun around, whipping out his phone. "What?! No way! I'm on my way!" He fake-hung-up with a dramatic click. "Got stuff to do, can't hang today!" He bolted, leaving no chance for reply.
Satoru: …
Bro, at least fake it better. Your screen didn't even show a call.
But he didn't bother chasing Anji. Hands in pockets, he strode ahead, Akane trailing. "So, did that Yamamoto guy apologize?"
"Hm? How'd you know?"
"Heh~~ I overheard Hisagi and Kurashiki talking to him~~ Didn't expect that, huh?"
"And?"
"Hisagi said he messed with you before…" Akane tilted her head, eyeing Satoru's profile. He seemed quiet, not the type a coward like Yamamoto could bully. "So I gave them an idea."
"What?"
"I told Kurashiki, since Yamamoto lied to her about you, he must hate you. So make him beg you for forgiveness." Akane grinned. "Kurashiki wasn't into it at first, but thought it'd be fun to make him apologize to someone he tried to frame. She agreed and used her boyfriend to scare him… Wow, I didn't know her boyfriend was that scary."
"Turning into a delinquent, huh?"
"No way, just sticking up for you!" Akane huffed, puffing out her chest. "I'm still pure… Oh, and you don't think Kurashiki's sudden defense means she's into you, right?"
Her eyes narrowed.
Satoru didn't, but Anji sure thought so.
"Not Kurashiki, I did it. Remember that," Akane said, almost demanding.
"Oh…"
"One more thing…" She sneaked a glance at his blank face. "…Did you used to like Kurashiki?"
"Guess so."
"You confessed?"
"Yup."
No point hiding it—Akane knew Arisa, a witness to the event.
"…" Akane pouted, a touch resentful.
Just when Satoru thought her chatterbox would quit, she piped up. "Nice, nice… So you're into gyaru types."
Gyaru meant fashion. Akane twirled her hair. She was pretty, on par with Rena, but as a sports club girl, she knew little about trends. Rena always looked dazzling.
Should I try a Shibuya-style gyaru makeover?
"Not really into them," Satoru said.
"Still denying it." Akane huffed. "You confessed…"
Satoru glanced back. "Can't live in the past."
"What's that mean?"
"That's old news." Satoru shrugged. "After confessing and getting rejected, I'm over Kurashiki."
"…You're such a player!" Akane scolded, but her heart skipped sweetly. She hesitated, then asked softly, "So… what type do you like now?"
"Short hair," Satoru said without thinking.
"…" Akane's face exploded red. Short hair… Among the girls linked to him—Rena, Sakura, even Arisa—only she had short hair. She fiddled with her ear-length locks.
Confession?! No way, why would he like me? Compared to Sakura-senpai or Rena, she had no standout traits… But the swelling hope in her chest was undeniable.
"What else, what else…" Akane tried matching herself, hand on her ample chest.
"Flat-chested," Satoru added.
"…Huh?" Her soft fingers confirmed she was far from flat—bustier than most her age.
"Athletic, wears safety shorts under skirts." Satoru thought, then added, "Bonus if she can shoot lightning."
Akane: …
"Who're you even talking about?!" It sounded like a specific person.
"Misaka Mikoto," Satoru said, naming someone Akane didn't know. A classmate?
"Who's that?"
"My ex," Satoru said, voice heavy with pain. "She dumped me for a spiky-haired guy…"
His raw emotion caught Akane off guard. He'd never shown such feeling before. She wanted to comfort him but didn't know how.
Finally, she rushed forward, grabbing his right hand with both of hers, declaring like a vow, "You'll definitely find someone better!"
Her eyes sparkled, announcing something huge.
Satoru blinked. Shit, did I overdo the trolling…
…
…