Akane and Hayato, whose conversation had been cut short, turned their heads at the same time.
Don't be fooled by the rooftop's current tidiness—its reputation for being dirty and messy was already burned into every student's mind. Normally, no one would come up here.
And yet, a boy stood there.
He looked to be in the same year as Hayato. Shorter in height, but with broad shoulders and a square jaw. His skin was darkened by the sun, giving him a rugged impression. Honest-looking, at first glance. Hayato didn't recognize him.
"You are…?" Hayato asked, finding it strange that the boy used a polite tone.
But Akane did recognize him. "Ah, Tsubasa-kun."
Tsubasa? The name jogged something in Hayato's memory. Ochi Tsubasa—boyfriend of Kushiro Arisa, and, if he remembered correctly, a member of the soccer club.
"Nanao-san, you're here too," Ochi Tsubasa said with a sheepish smile. "I didn't interrupt anything, did I?"
"N-no, of course not." Akane waved her hands quickly. Of course he did interrupt, but she couldn't say that. Her heartbeat quickened. Why did this feel like being caught in the act…?
Tsubasa gave a polite nod, then looked squarely at Hayato. "So you really are here. I was about to give up when I didn't see you in class… thankfully, that pompadour guy told me where you'd gone."
Pompadour? Must be Hayato, Hayato thought immediately.
"So? What business do you have with me?" Hayato asked, studying him. No hostility, no deception. His eyes were narrow but kind, his smile genuine.
"I came to thank you," Tsubasa said.
"…Huh?"
"Arisa!" Tsubasa turned and called out toward the doorway. "Don't be shy, come out!"
"I—I'm not shy!" A flustered voice replied. "I-I just don't know what to say…"
But under their combined gazes, Kushiro Arisa stepped forward at last. Awkwardly smoothing her half-long black hair, eyes still faintly red from crying, she looked much less fierce than usual.
Well, it was only natural. No matter how aggressive she acted at school, she was still just a high school girl.
"…Thank me?" Hayato asked in disbelief.
"Yes." Tsubasa chuckled softly. "Last night, just as I was about to go to bed, Arisa suddenly called me. She told me everything about what happened on the subway."
Hayato's eyes widened. That girl—back then, she'd rather risk herself being assaulted than let her boyfriend find out.
Arisa's fingers twisted at the hem of her blouse. "…I thought about it a lot, and… I realized what you said was right. So… I told him. And, um, Tsubasa-kun didn't hate me for it."
"How could I possibly hate you!" Tsubasa raised his voice, almost like a declaration. "If something like that happens again, Arisa, just slap that scumbag! Don't worry about me—I'd never dislike you over something so small. I'd only regret that I wasn't there to help you kick the bastard's teeth in!"
Arisa's face flushed scarlet. "…Y-yeah… I was overthinking."
Tsubasa then bowed his head solemnly to Hayato. "That's why—I wanted to thank you properly. You protected Arisa, and you showed her the right way forward. I really… I really don't know how to put it into words. But still—thank you!"
He bent almost ninety degrees, his whole body stiff with sincerity.
"…Oi, oi," Hayato muttered, patting Tsubasa's shoulder to straighten him back up. Then he gave him a thumbs up.
"?" Tsubasa blinked in confusion.
Why did it feel like he was the one being praised?
Hayato's chest tightened with emotion. What does it mean to be a paragon of pure love? This. This right here. Tsubasa-kun! You're a beacon of hope in the world of doujinshi! If every NTR protagonist had this kind of spine, heroines would never have to suffer! Just go straight up and punt the NTR scum into the next prefecture!!
"You… did the right thing," Hayato said, voice nearly trembling.
"N-no, no…" Tsubasa waved both hands quickly. "It was only thanks to your words, 'If he pushes you away because of this, then he never loved you to begin with.' That's what opened Arisa's heart. All I did was love her as best I could."
"…O-okay, that's enough, stop embarrassing me." Arisa lightly smacked Tsubasa's back, then glared at Hayato. "Besides… it's not like I can get into Todai anyway! It would've come out sooner or later, so I figured I'd confess now. Hmph! If Tsubasa-kun dumped me, I could just find another boyfriend right away~"
Tsubasa only laughed, scratching his head, not the least bit angry.
"…Arisa." His voice softened as he called her name.
Arisa's eyes wavered. Then, as if steeling herself, she bent at the waist and bowed to Hayato.
"I'm sorry! I was cruel to you before. Please forgive me!"
"…What's this about?" Hayato asked flatly.
"I-I was mean…" she muttered, fingers fidgeting nervously.
"So what?" Hayato pressed.
She faltered. Tsubasa quickly stepped in, reading Hayato's intent. "Alright, Arisa. You've apologized and given thanks, so let's not impose on them anymore. They were in the middle of lunch with Nanao-san, remember?"
"Ehh? But I wasn't finished—"
"I know, I know." He gently guided her toward the door, throwing Hayato and Akane an apologetic look.
Sorry to intrude, he mouthed silently, before disappearing with her.
"See that?" Hayato crossed his arms, nodding firmly. "That's what a boyfriend should be. Steadfast. Protective. Someone his girlfriend can rely on."
Akane's gaze trembled faintly. As Arisa and Tsubasa's figures faded, she turned her eyes back toward Hayato.
"…I was bullied by Tougou."
"Nani!? Bring me my sword! I'll cut that bastard down where he stands!" Fired up by Tsubasa's display, Hayato was overfloTsubasa with heroic energy. "Sword in hand! Follow me! Destroy the NTR! Use their heads for soccer practice!!"
"…I was joking." Akane giggled softly, sitting down and patting the space beside her. "Come on, let's eat. Why are you only eating bread? Try a rice ball. Or maybe one of the sausages—they're really good."
Yes.
That's what a boyfriend should be.