After joining Kessoku, Aoki's life loosened up.
No more pouring hours into jobs; most of his time was now his own.
The bill might come due in two months, but he didn't care—he chose to enjoy the moment.
"Life's beauty lies in savoring each moment, not chasing endless wealth and power." —Tagore.
June 3rd—days after joining—the girls were steadily improving.
Notably, when they'd asked to perform at STARRY again, Seika refused and said any stage time had to pass her personal weekend screening.
Given the gap, Aoki turned down both the screening and the live—"We still need to gel before we take the stage together."
So with the screening looming, the training mood tensed up.
But that wasn't today's topic—
Legs burning from Shūka's long slope, Aoki once again crossed paths with Hachiman at the gate.
"Morning." Rested for once, Aoki greeted him.
Somewhere along the way, Hachiman had gotten used to being greeted. He rubbed his eyes and mumbled,
"Haah… morning…"
Habits are scary—enough to tame even Hachiman, sworn enemy of normies.
Not that Aoki himself was a normie. Aside from spending afternoons at STARRY rehearsing, he too was a closed-off weirdo—Hachiman without the dead-fish eyes.
After the short greeting, they fell quiet.
They went in, climbed to the second floor. As Aoki dug for his math book, Hachiman tossed out,
"By the way, 'XX Haruhi' is getting a new volume."
"Mm." Aoki nodded without looking up.
"I'm kinda hyped."
"Mm…" He still couldn't find the math book.
"You got any thoughts?" Hachiman turned and saw the book hunt.
Math was sandwiched in the language text. Aoki finally fished it out, then blinked blankly at Hachiman's question.
"Eh? I've never read Haruhi."
"…"
Hachiman's face froze.
He rescinded his earlier assessment—Aoki was not friend material.
Anyone who hadn't read Haruhi was doomed to a failed, flavorless life. Hachiman refused to be friends with such a person.
...
The morning hiccup ended. Bell rang.
Classes. Bento. Hachiman bought him juice. He popped down to the first-year floor to tutor Kita for a bit.
Afternoon was uneventful—until the closing bell.
It was Friday; Aoki had to swing by the Service Club.
He figured he'd sit for half an hour and be done, but as he packed up, a voice from the back door piped up:
"Aoki-senpai, I have a guitar question—"
That bright voice drew half the class's attention despite dismissal.
"Who's the red-haired girl?"
"A first-year named Kita, I think? Super popular…"
"Who's she calling? Do we have an Aoki in class?"
"No idea…"
Hachiman recognized her—he'd seen her with Aoki in the hall days ago.
Given the "Aoki-senpai," she was clearly here for him.
Hearing the class's murmurs, Hachiman shot Aoki a worried look.
Aoki didn't care about looks. Gossip might sting a hair, but that was it.
Stuffing the last book into his bag, he replied, "What's up? I'm heading to a club. Talk at the bar after?"
"How long will that take?" Kita leaned in the doorway. "Got it then, Aoki-senpai—see you later!"
"No problem," he said.
The room fell quiet for a second.
Then exploded.
The taciturn transfer student of less than a month… being addressed as "senpai" by a super cute, popular first-year? And sounding very close?!
What light-novel romcom script was this?!
Eyes of doubt, confusion, and envy sprayed Aoki.
Um… being the subject of the whole class's chatter has to feel awful… can you handle this, Aoki-san…?
Hachiman's dead-fish eyes filled with concern.
"Okay, see you later, Aoki-senpai." Kita waved and left.
"Mm, see you."
Because he'd been teaching her lately, they'd grown familiar. His normal, matter-of-fact tone sounded, to outsiders, a bit… blasé.
The chatter got louder.
Aoki ignored it, shouldered his bag, and stood.
Seeing him leave, Hachiman hesitated, then rose too.
Aoki glanced at him, a bit surprised, but said nothing. They stepped out.
-------
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