After shaking himself off with practiced ease, Hayato stepped out of the restroom.
He flicked his hands, and a few drops of water scattered onto Akane's face as she waited by the door. She shivered at the sudden chill.
"…Can't you wipe your hands after washing them?" Akane muttered, pulling a packet of tissues from her skirt pocket.
Hayato took one, wiped his hands carelessly, and said with a blank look. "Huh? I didn't wash my hands."
"…Eh?"
Akane froze. Then what just splashed on her face wasn't—? Her gaze snapped toward Hayato, her expression turning sour.
"…Don't make disgusting jokes like that!"
"Alright, alright." Hayato shoved his hands into his jacket pockets and walked ahead, leaving Akane to follow a step behind. "So? What did you need me for?"
"You probably haven't eaten lunch yet, right?"
Nonsense. "You cornered me the second class ended. Where exactly would I find the time?" Hayato replied flatly.
"Then… want to eat together?"
Akane lifted the bundle she was carrying—a lunchbox wrapped neatly in a pink cloth. "Let's find somewhere quiet."
"…Bento?"
"Mm-hm."
"How nice…" Hayato muttered.
Japan really did have its quirks. In high school, there wasn't much of a cafeteria culture. Some kids went to convenience stores, but the majority just brought their own bento.
Of course, in the real Japan, cafeterias were starting to catch on nowadays. But since he had transmigrated into a light novel world, everything here followed anime logic instead.
Searching for real people in a virtual world? That guy must be broken in the head.jpg.
"What's wrong?" Akane tilted her head, not catching what Hayato meant by good. But before he could answer, a loud voice cut in.
"Ah! Aibo! So you're here!"
Looking up, Hayato realized they had passed Class F again on their way back. Masayuki was standing there, waving both arms.
"Catch!"
Whoosh!
A wrapped package flew straight at him.
Hayato raised his hand and caught it neatly. Yakisoba bread.
Whoosh! Again.
This time, it was a single manga volume— Tonight, My Sister-in-Law Falls in Love with Me.
And then—
Whoosh!
The third thing that flew over was Masayuki himself. He landed in front of Hayato, slapping his shoulder with a grin.
"Bought this for you! Bread and manga both. Let's find a spot, I'll tell you everything about this masterpiece, how about it?"
Just as he was about to sling an arm around Hayato, he froze. Hayato's gaze had shifted behind him.
Masayuki turned.
There stood a beautiful girl in a purple cap, curves that could stop traffic. She shrank at the sudden attention, then hurried to hide behind Hayato's back, using his tall frame as a shield.
"Want to come with us?" Hayato asked.
"Hahahahaha!" Masayuki suddenly broke into a wild laugh. Planting one foot firmly on the ground, he spun around half a circle.
"Hahahaha! The weather's amazing! Perfect for… peeing! Yes! A restroom day trip, here I go!"
Still laughing, he marched off dramatically.
From the front, only his leisurely back could be seen. But Hayato didn't notice the tears welling in his friend's eyes, nor the clenched fists at his side.
Hayato! You brat! Another one!?
But as a modern man of Reiwa, Masayuki swallowed the pain, unwilling to block his buddy's happiness. Still—damn it, that was too much happiness!
Holy crap, Hayato… no matter what, you've got to teach me! You wouldn't leave your brother single forever, would you?!
Masayuki pretended nothing had happened, leaving only his silhouette behind.
"What's wrong with him?" Akane asked.
"He's sick. Ignore him," Hayato replied.
"Oh…"
"So? Where to? The courtyard?"
"Didn't you say 'a place with no one'?" Akane whispered.
The courtyard… since forever, it was the lovers' territory. A place soaked in pink bubbles, full of couples holding hands, eating lunch, even sneaking kisses. Not for loners.
Hayato scratched his head. "True. The courtyard doesn't suit me. I'm not like you guys—I don't have a partner."
"…I won't have one soon either," Akane muttered, barely audible.
"What?"
"NOTHING!" Her cheeks flushed as she raised her voice. "The rooftop. Let's go to the rooftop."
The rooftop? Hayato tilted his head. Makoto had fought up there once… but then again, Makoto had fought pretty much everywhere. Nothing unusual.
"Alright."
The rooftop wasn't exactly clean—messy as always. But since it was the start of the school year, the student council had tidied it, so at least it wasn't immediately gross.
Hayato sat on a step, tearing open his yakisoba bread with his teeth while flipping open his manga. "Bullied again?"
Akane quietly laid out her napkin, revealing rice balls and octopus sausages. She bit into one, giving only a small nod.
A shadow passed through Hayato's eyes. "…Tougou again?"
…Not exactly.
Akane stayed silent. To say "Tougou" wasn't wrong… but this time, the wound cut deeper than just the teacher's harassment.
She bit her lip, fighting tears, afraid to choke up.
Her mind echoed with last night's phone call. Hayato's voice.
"Coach Tougou… that beast… he tried to touch me," Akane had whispered, forcing herself to stay calm.
Three seconds of silence. Then Hayato's voice came.
"Akane… this is our fault. Don't slander Coach Tougou. Go apologize. He's magnanimous. He'll forgive you. Please… don't be selfish anymore."
Akane didn't even remember how she hung up. Whether she cried or not.
This morning she almost convinced herself it had been a dream. Almost.
But the call log in her phone told her it was real.
"Oh! You're here!"
Just as Akane opened her mouth, someone else stepped onto the rooftop—shattering the fragile silence.