Chapter 13: Do You Like Rom-coms?　３

In the gymnasium, where the entire student body had gathered, one candidate’s student council president speech was reaching its climax.

“Therefore, I am running for student council president. I ask for everyone’s support. I swear to make this school an even better place!”

Akaishi watched the candidate giving their speech from the podium with a bored expression. After the candidate’s speech came the support speeches from their friends. He noted with disinterest that even someone running for student council president needed friends to back them up. He also analyzed that it was proof one person’s power alone wasn’t enough to become president.

Just as the candidate’s speech was wrapping up, there was a commotion from the back. Akaishi turned his head slightly and saw Sakurai and Hachiya being scolded by Kanna at the gymnasium entrance.

Even while being scolded, Hachiya stood beside Sakurai with flushed cheeks and a loose, dreamy expression. Seeing this, Akaishi understood that Hachiya’s big rom-com operation had apparently succeeded.

When they had first gathered in the gym, several teachers had gone looking for the missing Sakurai and Hachiya. Akaishi couldn’t help but think how selfish it was to cause trouble for everyone around them just to create a rom-com moment. At the same time, he deeply reflected that even though he had only said something random to pull Hachiya away from Sakurai, he may have been the one who encouraged this situation.

Losing interest in the pair, Akaishi turned his attention back to the speeches.

After the student council candidate speeches ended, everyone returned to the classroom.

Since it was impossible to fully understand someone’s character in such a short time, Akaishi voted for the candidate who seemed the most eloquent and intelligent.

After that, there were many mandatory school events. Akaishi carried them out mechanically, showing clear signs of fatigue.

Once all the school events and classes for the day had finally ended, Akaishi — being in the going-home club — immediately headed home.

While walking toward the nearest station, someone slapped him hard on the back from behind.

“I did it!”

“…………”

When he turned around, Hachiya was standing there.

“You’re going to leave a maple leaf on my back.”

“That’s outdated slang, you know.”

Akaishi rubbed his stinging back with a sour expression. Since Hachiya wouldn’t talk to him without a reason, he decided to investigate.

“Don’t you have club activities today?”

“Miss Kanna said she’s feeling lazy, so it’s canceled!”

“…I’m not in any club so I wouldn’t know, but do clubs cancel that easily?”

“…? Isn’t that normal?”

Akaishi gave Hachiya, who didn’t seem particularly devoted to club activities, a slightly displeased look. He guessed she had probably joined the broadcasting club just to chase after Sakurai without any real conviction, and it left him feeling irritated by her frivolous lifestyle.

However, his motto was to avoid getting involved with others as much as possible, so he quickly pushed the emotion aside.

“Whatever. So, what do you mean ‘I did it’?”

“I did it, I did it! Today something amazing happened with Sousuke!”

Hachiya excitedly stepped closer. Overwhelmed by her intensity, Akaishi took two or three steps back. She then passionately recounted everything that had happened that day. Akaishi finally understood the full picture of what Sakurai and Hachiya had done.

“How about that, Akaishi!? I’ve made huge progress with Sousuke, right!? We’re basically counting down until we start dating!”

She held her cheeks with both hands, excitedly waving her slender, beautiful limbs around. Her face was completely relaxed — the kind of face where “goofy grin” would be the perfect description. Seeing the usually sharp-tongued Hachiya look so lovestruck, Akaishi could imagine just how intense their little adventure had been.

“That’s great. So, where’s Sakurai right now?”

“I don’t know. He said he had something to do at school today and told me to go home first.”

Since the person in question wasn’t there, Akaishi asked. He inwardly sneered, thinking that Sakurai was probably off creating another rom-com scene with someone else while Hachiya was completely unaware.

While they were talking, they reached the station and boarded a train that arrived shortly after.

“And then, guess what Sousuke did, Akaishi?”

“No idea.”

“He covered my mouth! I was so surprised, I thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest!”

“I see.”

“And then Miss Kanna came to the locker room and we were so tense the whole time!”

“Haa.”

Even inside the train, Hachiya kept talking nonstop, recounting her rom-com developments with Sakurai. Akaishi listened while giving appropriate responses, thinking she must be really happy about getting closer to him.

“Ah, this is my stop.”

While Hachiya was still talking about her “intimate moments” with Sakurai, the train arrived at the main urban station and she got off.

“See you, Akaishi. Later.”

After getting off, Hachiya turned around and waved, but Akaishi got off at the same station as well.

“…………? Ah…… Akaishi, weren’t you supposed to get off at the next station?”

Hachiya tilted her head in confusion at him getting off at the same station as her. For a moment, her throat tightened as she wondered if he had some special business with her.

“No, this station has the best connection to my house.”

“…What do you mean?”

Hachiya looked puzzled by his answer.

“It’s exactly what it sounds like.”

“But last time when we went home with Sousuke, you didn’t get off here.”

“Yeah, that time I got off at the next station.”

“…? You said this station has the best connection, right? Why did you get off at the next one? Did you have something to do there?”

“No. I just couldn’t stand being in that atmosphere with you and Sakurai. I thought it would be best to leave you two alone, so I deliberately changed where I got off.”

“……So that’s what you did……”

Hachiya pouted, clearly dissatisfied that Akaishi had changed his station just because he didn’t want to be with her and Sakurai.

“It was for your sake.”

“…………Maybe…… it was.”

At that moment, Hachiya realized the timeline discrepancy between Akaishi’s statement and when she had asked him to help with her love life. She remembered that Akaishi had gotten off at the next station before she asked for his cooperation.

In other words, she understood that Akaishi had already intended to leave her and Sakurai alone even without being asked.

“Well, I’m taking Line 3.”

Leaving the speechless Hachiya behind, Akaishi started walking toward Platform 3. Realizing he had zero romantic interest in her, Hachiya felt strangely unpleasant. She told herself that anyone would feel bad upon realizing the opposite sex had no interest in them at all.

Despite that thought, Hachiya unconsciously grabbed the hem of Akaishi’s uniform.

Thinking she still had something to say, Akaishi turned back to her.

Reflexively grabbing his hem, Hachiya reflexively spoke.

“Tomorrow is Saturday, so there’s no school. Come to my house tomorrow.”

“…………Why?”

Akaishi frowned openly in confusion. Even Hachiya herself didn’t fully understand why she had said it, but she continued.

“I’ll contact you later. We’re meeting at my house tomorrow.”

“Ah, got it. Then contact me later. My next train is coming.”

Treating her words as casual talk, Akaishi walked toward Platform 3.

Hachiya stood there wondering why she had said something like that. Perhaps because Akaishi showed no interest in her at all, she felt she could consult him about romance without worrying about her chastity. Or maybe she was frustrated that a boy had no interest in her and wanted to make him acknowledge her existence. Or perhaps it was for a completely different reason.

Muttering “Why did I……”, Hachiya kept turning the thought over in her mind while waiting for her train.

On the same day that Hachiya invited Akaishi to her house,

“Sakurai-kun, I like you! Please go out with me!”

“Eh……………………”

At school, Mizushiro was confessing to Sakurai.

Chapter 13_ Do You Like Rom-coms