"Todai…?"
"Tokyo University. Never heard of it?"
Arisa had, of course, but getting into Todai? With her barely above-average grades, it was impossible. Absurd, absurd, absurd! Why that demand?!
Satoru ignored her quaking pupils, stating firmly, "If you don't get into Todai, I'll hand this phone to your boyfriend… Tsubasa Oji, right? Name's noted."
Arisa's eyes screamed despair. She looked at Akane, who shrugged silently, as if saying, Yup, this guy's a savage.
Subway security arrived first, followed by patrol officers. After questioning and investigating, they offered only a vague, "We'll do our best to catch the suspect."
Then they pedaled off on creaky bikes.
The process dragged on, and by the time it wrapped up, the sun had set.
Satoru suddenly remembered—Crap, the bookstore! He didn't even know if it was still open.
"Too late now," he said, turning to Akane. "Where do you live?"
"Near Asakusa Temple," Akane answered honestly, chuckling smugly. Not bad, knowing to escort a lady home at night.
"And you, Hisagi?"
"Chisuka Itchome…"
Arisa's reply irked Akane. What, he's escorting her too? A stranger getting equal treatment? Though, considering what Arisa just went through, maybe Satoru was just worried.
That's what Akane told herself.
After pondering their addresses, Satoru reached a perfect conclusion. "Alright, Akane, take Hisagi home."
Akane: ?
"I've got stuff to do. Later, 886!" He waved, hopping onto the subway pulling into Shirokane Takanotsume Station.
The same train went to Asakusa, but Satoru's slick move was so unexpected, Akane froze. This jerk… too cold!!
She glanced at Arisa.
Arisa looked back, wiping her red eyes. "S-Sorry for the trouble…"
"Ha…" Akane sighed. What could she do? She stood there, waiting for the next train.
"You two… close?" Arisa asked during the wait.
Before, Arisa saw Satoru as a creepy, gloomy perv. After this, her impression flipped. But… something still felt off.
"Not close!" Akane huffed, crossing her arms.
Arisa glanced at Akane's standout chest. She thought her own figure was decent, but next to this curvy beauty? Like a century-old imp meeting a thousand-year fox spirit. And with Akane's gorgeous face and sharp features—less makeup, yet far prettier—she felt outclassed.
Nanao Akane. Arisa recalled the name. The baseball club's icy beauty manager, a hit with the sports guys.
Like standing next to Rena, Arisa felt inferior beside Akane.
Yet Akane was so chummy with Satoru, while Arisa had arrogantly dismissed him as an amoeba.
How ugly… her past thoughts were clown-level ugly.
Satoru's calm demeanor wasn't fear—it was genuine disdain. Arisa felt a crushing defeat.
"What's up?" Akane asked.
"Nothing." Arisa took a deep breath. "Is he your boyfriend?"
"Huh?" Akane flinched, flailing her arms. "N-No way! I told you, we're not close. Just ran into him on the subway…"
Yeah, right. Arisa thought. That "not close" sounded like coy whining, and her shy denial screamed high affection.
Arisa started believing Satoru's "I'm not interested in you" to Rena was heartfelt. With stunning girls around him, even Rena's shine dimmed.
"Train's here. Let's go," Akane said.
After dropping Arisa off, Akane headed home.
Soon after entering her room, her phone buzzed. As expected, it was Shono-kun.
Akane felt a sudden boredom—not that she'd lost interest in Katamori Shono, but she could already predict his words.
"Hey," she answered, slapping her cheeks to muster a sweet smile.
"Akane!"
As predicted, Shono launched into a tirade. "Why didn't you show up to baseball club?! Coach Higashi's pissed, you know!"
"I-I wasn't feeling well," Akane said stiffly.
"You're always not feeling well lately."
"Just… these past couple days."
"Then rest up and apologize to Coach Higashi tomorrow."
Akane went silent for seconds, then said, "…I don't want to go."
"Why?" Shono's tone turned accusatory. "You fought with Coach Higashi, didn't you? Getting caught before was our fault… Don't hold a grudge. Apologize, and it's done. I'm sure Coach Higashi's big-hearted and won't make it hard for us…"
Satoru's words echoed in her mind: "What did you do wrong?! You're the victim!"
She took a deep breath, gathering her words. "Shono, about Coach Higashi… I need to tell you something."
"…What?" Shono asked, his tone thick with skepticism.
…
…