Akane did not head straight home after saying goodbye to Satoru.
She first pondered a question.
That is, at noon she had indeed gone to Class F looking for Satoru, and at that time she asked many people about his whereabouts, and the classmates' answers were all "don't know."
But this time the guy casually grabbed someone to ask, and they all knew he had gone to the health room?
Weird.jpg.
She didn't believe it and found another boy who hadn't left school yet.
The boy was quite happy at first, thinking his spring had finally come, and it was a beautiful girl with an outstanding figure and appearance, but the question directly silenced him.
"Excuse me… do you know where Anji went at noon?"
"Don't know."
No nonsense. After answering, the boy left listlessly.
Are all beautiful girls blind these days? If you say you like Satoru, that makes sense—he's handsome with a melancholic aura. Little sisters these days eat this type up, and if he marketed himself as almost depressed, it'd be an absolute killer…
But? Anji? Why him?
His yellow hair used to have some character, now with the cow-dung head it's even more neither here nor there…
Damn the heavens are unfair!
Akane was also quite silent… why are Class F students so exclusive? She figured it wasn't that they didn't know, but that they didn't want to tell her.
But Akane didn't think too much about it.
Since Satoru went to club activities, and she had quit the baseball club, that left her walking the commute road alone.
"…"
Thinking this way, Akane paused for a moment and surprisingly did not head straight for the gate.
Instead, she turned around.
Curious.
Really still very curious.
What that guy was doing at the kendo club… it was just too intriguing!
Although Akane had just refused Satoru's invitation, it was mainly because she felt that as an outsider with no relation to the kendo club, entering that place would be too strange. Now… sneaking a peek, it should, should be fine, right?
Holding this thought, like a thief with a guilty conscience, she deliberately lowered her footsteps, even though she was still only in the hallway.
The door to the kendo club training room was, as always, left with a crack.
Akane stuck out her perky butt to peek inside.
First she saw a beauty with lazy and indifferent eyes, then noticed the back facing the door, confronting that beauty… it should be Satoru.
If she remembered correctly, the beauty's name was Ayaka… the kendo club's vice-captain.
Vice-captain? Then where's the captain?
Akane's eyes rolled around inside, no trace of Sakura.
This put Akane at ease… looks like he really came for club activities, not a date with Miyajima-senpai or anything…
He seemed to have just sparred with Ayaka, who was sitting on the ground, looking roughly like she lost… hehe, didn't expect you to be pretty strong~~ Even though it was Satoru's win or loss, Akane inexplicably felt proud.
…Hey, isn't this a bit too intimate? Akane widened her peeking blue eyes.
She saw Satoru walk over to pull Ayaka's hand… though it was just to help her up, but clearly in the PE storage he wouldn't even pull her once. This made Akane a bit sour.
Then she saw Ayaka disdainfully brush away his palm, prop herself up, and stand on her own.
Phew phew… Akane was satisfied. Don't think just because you have a bit of looks, everyone will like you. Ayaka-senpai is super cold—this time you ate a loss, huh?
But Satoru didn't think much, just walked to the side, said a couple words to an underclassman-looking guy, demonstrated a few sword moves, said something more, then stepped aside…
He picked it up, he picked it up! Akane was excited—she saw Satoru pick up the bento box she gave him! Was he planning to eat the bento in this room? He'd be surrounded, right? Maybe asked things like "Eh? Who made this bento for you?" "Looks so delicious~" and how would he answer?
"Girlfr"… obviously not, they weren't at that stage yet.
Maybe say "a cute girl" or something? Hehe, then the kendo club might spread rumors he has a mysterious little girlfriend~~~
Akane thought happily.
Satoru was about to eat, but hadn't yet.
"Hm? Nanao-san? What are you doing here?" A voice from behind called Akane.
Akane's body stiffened instantly, then she straightened up, turned her head—it was a familiar but not-so-familiar face, seemed like she'd seen it somewhere…
"You are…?" Akane asked halfway and remembered: "Oh! It's you! You changed your hairstyle, I almost didn't recognize!"
It was that cow-dung-head friend, but now his hair was wet from water, looking less dung-like, so Akane really didn't recognize at first.
Anji almost cried. He considered himself a very distinctive, super handsome guy, but after meeting several times, she still didn't remember him… luckily Akane's sudden realization saved his tear ducts.
"Handsome, right?" Anji flicked his new style.
"…Heh, hehe…" Akane gave an awkward but polite smile: "Where you headed?"
"I'm going to join the light music club." Anji pointed to his guitar case on his back—the new style was to let the captain feel his charm: "…You?"
Then Anji looked at the kendo club sign, then at Akane, thought for a bit, and suddenly understood a lot.
He regretted greeting her.
"Uh, well, enjoy watching, I'm out…" Anji said. Damn, why does everything happen to him? Last time Yotsume came asking about Satoru's whereabouts, fine, but this time he caught Akane stalking aibo's movements.
What sin did he commit!
With that, he jogged off like a puff of smoke.
"No, listen to my explanation…" Akane wanted to explain, but didn't know how, and could only sigh watching the cow-dung head leave.
Akane: …
She hesitated whether to keep watching or go home, when another leisurely person walked over and greeted her: "…Nanao? What are you doing here? Want to walk home together?"
It was Arisa. Tsubasa seemed to be in club activities again today. She asked: "Or… are you going to report to the baseball club?"
Akane sighed again, then shook her head wordlessly.
The first time they met on the subway, Akane had walked Arisa home—they lived pretty close.
Out the gate, on the train, chatted about this and that, then got off at the same station.
Arisa's house was a bit farther than Akane's. Just as the latter was about to say goodbye—turn a corner and she'd be home—a cold voice came from behind:
"Nanao… you really think you can just quit the baseball club like this?"
Akane whipped her head around and saw… Higashi.
…