Akane knew that Satoru's 'talking sense' wouldn't be a proper, virtuous persuasion.
Because his calm gaze at that moment had already made Akane slightly excited.
Seemingly calm, yet containing ferocity.
The three girls' chatter grew increasingly fragmented, even starting to fabricate baseless slanders.
"They're girls," Akane said.
"I've always advocated for gender equality," Satoru said.
..."No need," Akane said, shaking her head with a light laugh.
After going through that experience, she had grown a lot.
Akane would no longer be easily swayed emotionally.
The current Akane was indestructible!
However, a warm current surged in Akane's chest.
Satoru-chan, as expected, was still gently caring for her feelings~~ So nice!
She looked at Satoru's arm; his hands were completely tucked into his jacket pockets.
Akane encouraged herself by taking a deep breath, then moved closer to Satoru and pulled his hand out of his pocket.
Immediately after, her fingers tightly intertwined with Satoru's, their fingers laced together.
Akane lowered her gaze, her cheeks flushed with heat, feeling both warm and red.
She wanted to look at her toes... Oh, sorry, she could only see her overly prominent chest.
Satoru-chan's hand was larger than she imagined, yet also more slender.
There was a cool, refreshing sensation.
The protruding bones at his fingers also had a unique sexiness.
"Nanao," Satoru said.
..."Ah, ah?" Akane asked nervously.
"You have sweaty hands," Satoru said.
..."Huh, huh!?"
Akane quickly let go of Satoru and then frantically looked at her palm.
It did feel a bit sticky; was it because she was so flustered that she started sweating?
First, first time holding hands, and the boy complained about sweaty hands!?
Akane looked at Satoru in disbelief.
The latter stood with a straight back, looking down at her, a slight smile on his lips, but his eyes held a hint of disdain.
The indestructible Akane began to crumble.
...
"Sweaty, sweaty hands, what's wrong with them! Isn't sweating a normal thing!"
"Yes, yes."
"And your address should change a bit! Why are you still calling me 'Nanao'!?"
"Yes, yes."
"So perfunctory!"
"Yes, yes."
Satoru took the bento box Akane handed him, then began to eat expressionlessly.
"Is it delicious?"
"Yes, yes..." Satoru replied mechanically, then realized the 'auto-reply' function was set incorrectly, so he said: "Average."
..."Hmph~"
Akane wrinkled her nose, but she didn't truly take Satoru's words to heart. She opened her own lunch box.
After giving Satoru two of the three fried chicken pieces inside, she ate while getting to the point: "Do you have time to go out with me?"
"No."
"You!"
Akane had already guessed she would be rejected, but she never expected such a blunt refusal! "Aren't you going to ask where we're going!?"
"Where?"
"My friend's house... Of course, she's a girl! She recently met a new friend and said she wanted to introduce them to me... And,"
Akane quietly glanced at Satoru, who was calmly chewing his food: "She seems to want to meet you too."
...(Chew, chew.) After swallowing, Satoru nodded: "Oh, no."
Akane was a bit ruffled, but after quietly staring at Satoru's profile for a long time, most of that resentment was suppressed.
Fine, fine, you're handsome, you can do whatever you want.
"If not, then not," Akane said.
"Do you want me to go?" Satoru asked.
Akane paused, then tentatively replied: "If I did?"
"What time, how long will it take?" Satoru asked again.
Akane's heart suddenly thumped twice.
She continued to look at Satoru's calm, unruffled dark eyes. Those same eyes that had been so annoying just moments ago, in response to these two questions, Akane actually heard a hint of tenderness?
Akane suspected her brain must have broken.
..."If you're busy, then forget it," Akane smiled radiantly. "Honestly, I even suspected you might have been unsociable in the past... Ah, ah, ah, no, of course that's not your problem!"
She quickly explained, afraid Satoru might misunderstand.
Mainly, she still didn't know what kind of personality that boy on Suzuka's side had.
If he was even slightly sensitive or delicate, then being around this one beside her would be very stressful.
After all, Satoru-chan,
Is handsome.
Is tall.
Has good grades.
Can sing and play guitar.
Is talented.
And his Kendo skills are far above average.
Eh, eh?
Akane suddenly realized.
No way? Is he really that outstanding?
He's practically flawless from every angle.
Then, what about me? Akane began to doubt herself. I'm so lazy and my grades are bad... Although I look okay, isn't Minister Gongdao and others also good-looking? Appearance clearly isn't enough to be a core competency...
"Mm," Satoru nodded.
Sheep flock together, but beasts always walk alone.
"Next time... I'll call you again," Akane whispered tenderly.
She felt an inferiority complex just being with him, let alone others. Akane thought, this was also for Suzuka and her boyfriend's sake.
"Okay," Satoru said.
A warm breeze blew past. After Satoru finished his meal, he took a sip of purified water to rinse his mouth.
Then he pulled a candy from his pants pocket.
Akane made the same motion, but she didn't have candy.
"What are you eating?"
"Mint candy."
"I want some too."
"Only one, someone else gave it to me," Satoru said. Actually, no, he had already finished them all early in the morning.
"Who gave it to you?" Akane activated her 'enemy' radar.
The candy wrapper was cute; most boys might feel embarrassed buying candy with such packaging. "A girl, right?"
"Right," Satoru said.
It was the little girl who spoke up for him and gave him a hair tie earlier, probably as a thank you for explaining the test papers to her yesterday.
Satoru originally wanted to ask her name, but unfortunately, just as he opened his mouth, the class bell rang.
"I want to eat it!" Akane glared at Satoru, puffed up with anger.
"I already told you, there's only this one."
"I don't care! Why are you constantly eating things that belong to other women!"
"Didn't I eat your things too?"
"Am I 'other women'!?'"
"Aren't you a woman? I'm shocked."
Facing Satoru's impervious attitude, Akane clenched her teeth.
She glared fiercely at his lips, which were currently sucking on the mint candy.
Then, Akane lunged forward!
She forcefully pounced on him, intending to use her soft lips to steal the candy from inside Satoru's mouth.
"Give it to me!" Akane shouted, her face flushed red.
This time, I absolutely have to show you what I'm capable of!
A scholar who hasn't been seen for a day should be looked at with new eyes!
Akane has evolved!!