Chapter 49 Akasaka Started to Move

Akasaka Started to Move

“I think this is the first time Saya and I are having lunch like this at school. It’s kinda fresh.”

“It’s fresh for me too, Aoi-senpai. I never thought I could have lunch with someone like this.”

Shinomiya-san started school today.

“How are you? Did you manage to get rid of your tension?”

“It’s okay, thanks to Aoi-senpai, Shuu-senpai. But when I’m in the classroom, it seems like everyone doesn’t know how to treat me. So I really don’t want to stay in class…”

“I see. If it’s too hard, I guess it’s okay to leave in the middle of the day. But I’m sure you’ll get used to it soon.”

“Yes, don’t worry. This is my decision. Besides, I have Shuu-senpai and Aoi-senpai now.”

“I see. Don’t be too hard on yourself.”

Aoi-senpai and Shinomiya-san talked like that.

Shinomiya-san had been absent until now, and her Sensei had probably told her classmates about her situation to some extent, so it was understandable that they would react like that.

“Yes…well, let’s put that aside for now. Senpai, can we go home together today?”

“Oh, I have nothing to do, so I’m fine.”

“I’m fine too.”

“Good. Thank you. I was looking forward to going home with you both today, hehe.”

When Shinomiya-san said that and smiled, Aoi-senpai looked back at her and smiled as well…

Today, somehow I finished my afternoon lesson without any incident. I only made a few mistakes in the quiz, but I’m sure I’ll be able to correct them next time.

My parents probably don’t care about my grades either. So it’s okay…

As usual, I left the classroom and hurried to the place where Aoi-senpai and Shinomiya-san were probably waiting for me.

Even if it’s just a compliment, they call me a friend, so I guess it’s okay if I’m a little late, right?

I went down the stairs as fast as I could and made my way to the meeting place.

There, Shinomiya-san was waiting in front of me.

“Sorry Shinomiya-san, I’m late.”

“Oh, that’s okay, Senpai. I just got here early. Somehow I got here as soon as I finished.”

The reason Shinomiya-san came so early maybe because she is looking forward to walking home with Aoi-senpai, or it may be because she has a hard time staying in the classroom, as she said at lunchtime.

Soon after, I saw Aoi-senpai walking toward us, and she approached us with a surprised expression on her face.

“You two are fast, aren’t you? I thought I’d be the first to arrive.”

“Hehe, I just wanted to get to Shuu-senpai and Aoi-senpai as soon as possible.”

“Well, thank you, Saya. I’m glad to hear that because I also wanted to go home with Saya.”

“Ehehe…”

“Well then, let’s go.”

“Yes.”

After such a conversation we started to walk.

“We have a test next week, will you two be okay?”

“Hmm, thanks to Shuu-senpai, I thought I could do better on the test, but there are some things I don’t understand, so I’m a little worried.”

“I’ll be fine. Probably.”

There was no way I could be first in my class, at most I could only reach 10th place.

No matter how hard I try, I can’t get any higher, so I don’t know if I’ll be able to go to university.

“What about you, Aoi-senpai? …Sorry, it might be rude to ask.”

“It’s okay. It’s just that I happened to be first during the last exam, but I don’t know if I’ll be first this time. I’m nervous too, and sometimes I make mistakes.”

“That’s right. Aoi-senpai isn’t perfect either, so she might make a mistake and not be on top for the first time.”

“Haha, well…”

Shinomiya-san jokes, and Aoi-senpai smiles in return. I have been seeing more and more scenes like that lately. I think they have become pretty close friends.

“So…Senpai, since we had a study session with you last time, why don’t we add Aoi-senpai today?”

“Yes, that is a good idea, I was just thinking about that too.”

“What about Shuu-senpai?”

“I’m fine if you don’t mind.”

“Of course. I’ll miss you if you don’t come.”

“Yes, I’ll be lonely without you too, Hiiragi-kun.”

“Okay, sorry to bother you.”

With that, the schedule for the study session was set.

“If you don’t mind, I’ll also ask you to teach me later, Aoi-senpai.”

“That’s good. Teaching will deepen my understanding of the subject, so do not hesitate. If you don’t understand something, please ask me.”

“Thank you very much.”

As I was walking along while listening to this conversation, I saw a familiar figure in front of me.

I had not seen her face in the past week, but for some reason, Akasaka-san’s face appeared in front of us as if blocking our way.

Why on earth? What did she want?

While these questions were running through my mind, she approached us.

“Hello, it’s been a while…”

“Yes, hello, Akasaka-san, right?”

“Yes. You are the student council president of Hiiragi-kun’s school, aren’t you?”

“Yes, although I’m retiring now, so I’m not the student council president anymore.”

Akasaka-san stared at Aoi-senpai. Aoi-senpai accepted her direct gaze and stared back at her.

Akasaka-san’s eyes looked a little dark. If I am not mistaken.

“Then why is Akasaka-san here? We’re not from the same school, are we? And I think it’s very rare for us to meet by chance.”

Shinomiya-san said to Akasaka-san in a voice different from the one she used to address Aoi-senpai.

“You’re…Shinomiya-san, right?”

“Yes, I am. Shinomiya Saya. I’m a friend of Aoi-senpai and Shuu-senpai, and I’m a year younger than Akasaka-san.”

“Oh, my name is Akasaka Yuko. This may be a while, but I look forward to working with you.”

Perhaps because Shinomiya-san’s words offended her, Akasaka-san responded to Shinomiya-san with a stern look and voice.

I wondered if something had happened between the girls while I was away.

I’ve never seen Shinomiya-san and Akasaka-san together, and I don’t think they go to the same junior high school either. Besides, they had just introduced themselves.

…Why is Akasaka-san giving Shinomiya-san a reproachful look?

“I came here because I wanted to tell Hiiragi-kun something.”

Akasaka-san was breathing in and out as she said that.

What did she want to tell me? If it’s about the false accusation, it’s in the past and doesn’t matter to me anymore.

It’s all over and I don’t feel anything anymore.

I just feel that, ah that happened to me once.

“I’ll save you this time, Hiiragi-kun. Just wait and see.”

“…huh? I’ll save you?”

I didn’t really understand. And I’m not in trouble right now.

I’ve been analyzing the current situation for a while, and there’s nothing that would cause me trouble right now. If I had to say, I’m the one who’s causing trouble for Shinomiya-san and Aoi-senpai instead.

They’re wasting their time because of me.

“It’s okay. That’s all I wanted to say.”

“…? Yes? I see…”

“Well, that’s all for today. Goodbye, you two, too.”

Saying that Akasaka-san went off somewhere and left.

What did she want?

Countless questions come to mind, but no answers. What did she mean when she said she would save me?

“…Hiiragi-kun, will you stay as close to me or Shinomiya-san as possible from now on?”

“As close as possible?”

“Yes, I’m a little worried about you.”

The smile that Aoi-senpai had when talking to Shinomiya-san a while ago had disappeared, and then she said that with a slightly serious expression on her face.

“Yes, I’ll try to be with Shuu-senpai as much as possible, too.”

“…? It’s okay, you don’t have to do that, you’ll just waste your time.”

“No, don’t worry. I just want to be with Hiiragi-kun, okay?”

“Me too. I’m just saying that because I want to be with Senpai, too, so don’t worry about it.”

Is that okay?

I wasted Aoi-senpai’s time after school, and now I don’t feel comfortable taking up more of her time and Shinomiya-san’s time.

I think it might have something to do with what Akasaka-san just said, but I don’t remember anything about it that troubles me.

“Since there’s no point in staying here anymore, why don’t you go to my house as soon as possible? I’ve got some things I want to talk to you about.”

“Maybe me too.”

“Okay, let’s go.”

Even a fool like me could guess that what they wanted to talk about was something from my past.

We talked and went to Shinomiya-san’s house…