Akane waiting for him? Unexpected. But her lunchtime search? Double unexpected.
"Here, bento." She thrust a purple-clothed box, cheeks puffed. "Made it for you… couldn't find you anywhere."
"No way." Satoru frowned. "Whole class knew I was in the health room…"
To prove it, he yanked classmate #1: "Where was I at lunch?"
"Health room, duh. Why?" The guy walked off, then slapped his thigh: Grass! Flexing! Pure flex! I want Miyajima-senpai to carry me too…
"See?" Satoru shrugged.
"…Weird." Akane hadn't lied—she asked multiple people, got "Huh? No idea." Even the cowlick guy was MIA. She'd left disappointed. But not important now:
"You hurt? Health room… Wait! Higashi subbed PE, right? Did he—"
"Chill." Satoru hand-chopped her forehead lightly. "That gorilla can't touch me. Just skipping class."
Akane exhaled, muttering, "Not studying properly…"
"Grades better than yours." External brain cheat, baby.
He snatched the bento. "I'll take it. Dinner sorted."
Egg fried rice and instant noodles were getting old. Not craving Akane-cooking, but wasting food? Nope. Frugal Kagoku labor virtue—even in Japan, stay true.
"So," Akane leaned forward, smiling faintly, "walk home together?"
"Nope."
Too decisive. Her smile vanished, replaced by tiny rage. She stomped. "WHY!"
"Club visit." He tapped his wooden sword.
Akane side-eyed, lips curled, displeased. "…To see Miyajima-senpai?"
"Huh? Club activity." Satoru scratched hair. "Wanna come?"
"Kendo club doesn't let outsiders gawk." She grumbled. "And…"
She didn't want to see him with Sakura. Sakura radiated "I'm perfect, feel inferior" light. Satoru, in Akane's eyes, shone special too. Together? Match made in heaven.
Akane hated that vibe. But no right to be selfish.
"Hair's too long." Satoru muttered. His style—Kobayashi Satoru era—J-idol shaggy. Suited his face, but ends and sideburns bugged him.
He grabbed the hair tie on his wrist, fumbling a mini ponytail. Zero experience. Hair got worse. From pretty boy to beggar king. Akane couldn't watch.
"…I'll do it."
"Cool." He dragged a chair to the doorway, sat.
Akane stood behind, took the tie, gently untangled strands… Then pulled a super long one.
Satoru's hair wasn't short, but this? Girl hair.
"Where'd you get this tie?!" Akane snapped.
"Gift."
"From who?"
Satoru pondered seriously: "Sorry, forgot her name."
The girl who defended him post-song on PE… what was it?
"Really?" Akane squinted.
"Really." He legit didn't know why she gave it.
"Then I'm confiscating." She pocketed it, swapped with her purple one. "Use mine."
She watched his reaction. If he refuses, the owner's special… He said nothing.
Akane relaxed, gently parted his hair, tied her purple tie—claiming territory.
Kendo club: brutal training as usual. But Sakura was busy elsewhere. Vice-captain Kobayashi Ayaka held the fort.
Ayaka's vibe: chill, unlike Sakura's perfectionism. Members joked mid-drill.
Ayaka cornered underclassman Kase Masafumi:
"That Kobayashi ditch again?"
Masafumi knew: Kobayashi Satoru-senpai. He nodded sadly. "Yeah… hasn't shown in ages."
"Tch." Ayaka clicked tongue.
What's his deal? Joined via Sakura nepotism, zero attendance. Thinks kendo's a public toilet—come and go?
"Men. Not a single good one." Not just Satoru. Recent mixers—other school guys, uni seniors—all eyeing her chest. Tease city. Wanted a great boyfriend; now disappointed in men…
"Uh?" Masafumi.
"Oh, Kase, you're still a boy, not a man." Save. Sent him back to training.
Ayaka arms-crossed, muttering. Kobayashi, mixer guys—zero reliable…
Then—creak—door opened.
Ayaka turned, still cursing internally: Men suck, no hope, damn men, stink men, men— —HOLY SHIT, HOT MAN!!
She gawked at the doorway.
…
…