"Todai…?"
"Haven't you heard of Tokyo University?"
Of course Kushiro Arisa had heard of it. But for her to get into Tokyo University? That was absurd. With her grades—average, or at best slightly above average among the less studious—such a feat was simply impossible. Impossible, impossible, impossible! And why would he demand something like that?!
Hayato ignored her stunned expression and laid it out without hesitation. "If you don't get into Tōdai, I'll hand this phone straight to your boyfriend. Ochi Tsubasa, was it? I've got the name noted down."
Kushiro Arisa's face drained of color. Despair flickered across her features. She turned toward Akane, silently begging for help.
But Akane could only shrug, her shoulders rising and falling as if to say: Yeah… he really is that kind of scumbag.
Soon, the subway security arrived. They asked questions first, then the local patrol police came clattering in on their creaky bicycles. After a round of questioning and scribbling in their notepads, all they could offer was the promise: "We'll do our best to track down the suspect."
And then they pedaled off into the night.
The whole ordeal dragged on, and by the time it ended, the sun had already dipped below the horizon.
"Tch. Too late," Hayato muttered to himself. "Guess I won't make it to the bookstore… wonder if it's already closed."
He shook his head, then turned to ask, "Nanao, where do you live?"
"Near Sensō-ji Temple," Akane replied honestly. She gave a small, amused chuckle. "Well, at least he knows how to be a gentleman, making sure a girl gets home safe at night."
"And you, Kushiro?" Hayato asked, glancing at Arisa.
"Chisato Itchōme…"
Akane stiffened a little at that. Did this mean he was planning to escort Arisa home too? They'd just met, and yet she'd get the same treatment? Still… after what Arisa had been through earlier, maybe Hayato was just worried for her.
Akane convinced herself of that, but—
"Alright then," Hayato said, after briefly considering the two addresses. "Nanao, I'll trouble you to take Kushiro home."
"Eh—?" Akane blinked.
"I've got something else to take care of. I'm heading off. Bye-bye!"
He gave a careless wave and, without hesitation, hopped onto the subway that had just pulled into Shibuya Station.
This same line went straight to Sensō-ji. But his sudden, whimsical action left Akane frozen in place.
Th-this guy…!
She nearly cursed him aloud. Truly unreasonable. Utterly impossible to deal with.
She turned and found Arisa watching her, wiping at her reddened eyes."Th-thank you for the trouble…"
"…Haa." Akane exhaled deeply. Getting angry wouldn't help. All she could do was wait for the next train.
As they stood together on the platform, Arisa finally spoke."…Are you two close?"
Before this, Kushiro Arisa had always thought of Hayato as nothing more than a gloomy pervert. But after what happened today, that deeply ingrained impression had been overturned. And yet… there was still a strange, indescribable feeling in her chest.
"We're not close!" Akane huffed, folding her arms with a pout.
Arisa's gaze instinctively shifted toward Akane's figure—especially her chest, which was far more prominent than her own. Arisa considered her body fairly good, but compared to the girl beside her… it was like a century-old ghost standing next to a thousand-year-old fox spirit. On top of that, Akane had the face of a true beauty. Her makeup wasn't as elaborate as Arisa's, yet her natural charm far outshone it.
Akane—that was her name, if Arisa recalled correctly.The Baseball Club's famous ice-beauty manager. A girl admired by countless boys in the sports clubs.
Just like when standing next to Kurashiki Reina, Arisa felt a creeping sense of inferiority. And this Akane was close to Hayato… while Arisa herself had once arrogantly thought of Hayato as little more than a paramecium compared to her.
How ugly. The way she thought back then was truly ugly—like a clown dancing in her own vanity.
Hayato's calmness toward her wasn't because he was afraid. It was because he genuinely… looked down on her.
Realizing that now, Kushiro Arisa felt a crushing sense of defeat.
"What's wrong?" Akane asked, tilting her head.
"Nothing," Arisa replied, taking a deep breath. "Is he your boyfriend, Nanao?"
"Eh!?" Akane's eyes widened, and she frantically waved her slender arms."N-no way… I told you, we're not close! We just happened to meet on the subway…"
No, that's not right, Arisa thought. That "not close" sounded more like a sulky pout. And that denial just now—so flustered, so shy.
Even if they weren't dating, Akane clearly had feelings for Hayato. Strong ones, at that.
Arisa began to believe that when Hayato told Kurashiki Reina, "I'm not interested in you right now," he had truly meant it. After all, the girls around him kept becoming more and more remarkable…Compared to them, even Reina's brilliance would eventually be overshadowed.
"The t-train's here. Let's go," Akane said quickly.
After seeing Arisa home, Akane returned to her own place.
Not long after she entered her room, her phone began to buzz. Just as she expected, it was a call from Hayato.
Akane let out a small sigh. Not because she disliked Hayato, but because she already knew exactly what he was going to say.
Still, she patted her cheeks, forced herself to brighten her mood, and answered with a sweet smile. "Hello."
"Akane!"
As she predicted, Hayato immediately began scolding her. "Why didn't you report to the Baseball Club today!? Coach Tougou is furious, you know that!?"
"I-I wasn't feeling well…" Akane replied stiffly.
"…Why are you always unwell?"
"J-just these past two days."
"Then rest tonight. Tomorrow, come apologize to Coach Tougou."
Akane fell silent for several seconds. Then, in a low voice, she said:"…I don't want to go."
"Why?" Hayato demanded. "You really clashed with Coach Tougou, didn't you? Sure, it was wrong of us to be caught before… but don't stay angry at him because of that. Just apologize. Once you do, this whole thing will be over. Coach Tougou is magnanimous—he won't make things hard for us."
At that moment, Hayato's words suddenly echoed in Akane's ears:
"What did you do wrong in this matter!? You're the victim!"
Akane took a deep breath, gathering her courage.
"Hayato… about Coach Tougou, there's something I need to tell you."
"…What is it?" Hayato asked, his tone heavy with doubt.