A Relationship Like Waves 3
“Yuunagi-kun, good morning! So, what’s the nu for today?”
She sat at the table with a big smile.
“I tried sothing different today, Ogura butter toast.”
“Oh, perfect. The sweet and salty taste is addictive.”
This morning, Sensei too seed to be enjoying her breakfast with a happy face.
After finishing the al and seeing off a cheerful Tenjō-san, I cleaned up and left my apartnt.
Checking the ti on my smartphone and timing my train ride, I sent Kuhouin a ssage.
【Yuunagi: Have you left ho?】
【Akira: Yes, I have. That’s enough already!】
【Yuunagi: Just making sure.】
【Akira: You’re too suspicious of .】
After a while, I sent another ssage.
【Yuunagi: Are you on the train?】
【Akira: Huh, what the heck!? Are you a stalker? Why do you know exactly when I’m boarding!?】
【Yuunagi: It’s just a coincidence. Which car are you in?】
【Akira: I don’t know. Probably sowhere in the middle.】
I arrived at the station nearest to the school.
Normally, I would walk to school from there, but this ti I waited on the platform bench for the next train.
When the next train arrived and the doors opened, Akira Kuhouin stepped off.
“Good morning, glad you made it on ti.”
“Nishiki!? Why are you here?”
“Just making sure.”
“Wait, are you tracking my movents? It’s weird and really creepy to get ssages at such precise tis so frequently.”
Kuhouin looked genuinely alard, her sleepiness completely gone.
“I asked yesterday about how long it takes you from ho to the station. As long as that’s correct, I can roughly estimate the tis you pass through each point until you get to school.”
“Why go to that extent?”
“I planned a schedule that allows Kuhouin to sleep as much as possible without being late.”
“Nishiki, are you the type who can’t relax unless things go according to schedule? You know, controlling others like that can make you disliked.”
She looked at as if I were a bit of a creep.
“I’m not that strict. Besides, it wouldn’t have worked if Kuhouin didn’t report correctly.”
“I just can’t stand not being on point with ti.”
It was a statent befitting soone who used to be in the track team.
I quickly followed her as she started walking ahead. We exited the station’s ticket gate and headed towards the school.
“Why are you following ? Are you seriously stalking ?”
Kuhouin, walking in front, complained.
“It’s the way to school, so don’t be absurd. I don’t want to be late either.”
“I feel uncomfortable, feels like I’m being followed.”
“Then I’ll go ahead aand pass you .”
I quickened my pace to close the distance.
“I don’t like that either.”
Kuhouin, seemingly in a competitive spirit, also increased her walking speed, and we ended up walking side by side.
“As a forr track team mber, you hate being overtaken, huh?”
“──It’s not that. It just looks like we’re going to school together.”
“We’re just walking side by side.”
“It bothers .”
“You’re worrying too much.”
“I feel like we’re being stared at by everyone around.”
I looked around.
Since it was ti for school, many Kiyō High School students were walking on the sa path.
She’s right, they seed to be looking in our direction.
“Oh, that’s probably because Kuhouin is cute.”
If a beautiful girl who is not usually seen on their way to school is walking there, it’s natural for people to take a glance or be conscious of her.
“Haa!?”
Kuhouin raised her voice in surprise next to , causing to be startled too.
“What are you talking about?”
“I told you the sa thing on the phone this morning.”
“…I thought I misheard you because I was half asleep.”
Kuhouin turned her face away with a ‘huff.’
“Akira Kuhouin is a girl who stands out, it’s just a fact.”
“It’s creepy how you say such corny lines so casually.”
She seed to have gotten goosebumps, rubbing her arms.
“It’s surprising that Kuhouin isn’t used to such comnts.”
“I was absorbed in club activities, so love was my secondary concern. Makeup doesn’t make you run faster.”
Kuhouin said it matter-of-factly.
“That straightforwardness of yours, I think it’s good.”
“It’s just being clumsy.”
“It’s proof that you’re concentrating and working hard on one thing. That kind of thing is cool.”
“────Nishiki, you just started talking to so casually. You didn’t approach with an ulterior motive, nor were you intimidated…”
Kuhouin’s voice softened a bit.
“I see, you are actually aware that people are intimidated by you…”
I couldn’t help but give a wry smile.
“If you’re treated like a hot potato, you can’t help but notice a few things.”
“With that strong personality and looks, and without being friendly, it’s easy to give off an unapproachable impression.”
I made an objective comnt.
To be precise, Akira Kuhouin in Class 2-C is seen as a beautiful girl who is admired by those around her.
They’re intimidated, but she’s not disliked at all. She just always looks sleepy during breaks, so everyone is considerate and doesn’t bother her.
“Talking to such a troubleso girl…Nishiki, you’re an unusual guy.”
Kuhouin finally showed a smile appropriate for her age.
“Oh, that’s great. If Kuhouin approached others with that smile, the walls you feel would be easily broken down.”
Her eyes widened at my advice.
“Do you have sisters, Nishiki?”
“I do have a stepsister.”
“Ahh, that’s why you’re good with girls. You womanizer.”
It didn’t sound like she was complinting .
“Then, I feel like I should be more popular.”
My period of popularity, please co to !
“Nishiki, you seem like you don’t have many friends.”
“That’s sothing I don’t want to hear from you.”
“What’s wrong with that? Who decided that people with many friends are better?”
Akira Kuhouin said this with a hint of a ‘hmmph’ in her voice.
In a group where many are keen on reading the room, her ability to not be swayed by others is her strength.
Then, we happened to pass by the nearest convenience store to the school.
“So, what about breakfast? If you make a dash for it, there’s still ti.”
“Is that also according to schedule?”
“It’s a bonus ti because Kuhouin reported honestly.”
“Fine. Wait for , Nishiki.”
“Uh, I was going to go ahead to school first.”
“Just stay there!”
Kuhouin pointed at to wait and hurried into the convenience store.
“How much does she hate the idea of going ahead?”
True to her word, Kuhouin quickly finished her shopping and returned.
“Here, this is for you. Thanks for this morning.”
And then Kuhouin handed a chocolate bar, separate from her own breakfast.
“No, really, you shouldn’t have.”
“I don’t want to owe you anything. Just take it.”
She put it in my hand and started walking, sucking on a Chupa Chups.
Insisting on returning it would only spoil her mood.
“And by the way, calling ‘Kuhouin’ is too long. Just ‘Akira’ is fine.”
“Is that okay?”
“I even find my own last na too pompous. I prefer ‘Akira.’ “
“It makes nervous.”
“Calling a girl by her first na should co naturally to you. It’s pathetic otherwise.”
Kuhouin laughed at .
“But this is strictly as friends, alright?”
I felt compelled to clarify.
“As a man, sotis you need to be assertive. It makes it easier for the girl to make excuses too.”
“What if I push too hard and end up being disliked?”
“That’s probably why you don’t have a girlfriend, huh?”
Her words hit hard.
The girl walking beside looked at provocatively.
“I’ll keep this snack for later, Akira.”
I put it in the pocket of my uniform.
While talking like this, we reached the school before we knew it.
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