"Hey… Aoki, won't all that talk bother you?" Hachiman asked in the hall.
"Bother me how? People whispering won't make my skin peel." Aoki hitched his gig bag higher.
Rumors, malicious stares, careless chatter—those things corrode people without them even noticing.
And rumor-spreaders often act innocent later: "I didn't mean it, sorry," which only fuels the fire.
Usually comes from some normie clique.
So Hachiman's "All you idiots singing hymns to youth—go explode!" was… sort of sincere.
But Aoki was different—
Even as most of the class talked about him with a tinge of malice, he could walk out stone-faced and say, "They won't make my skin peel."
For a "lone wolf" who chose solitude—the purity level… was too high!
A flicker of respect crossed Hachiman's eyes, then curiosity took over.
"So long as it doesn't bother you… By the way, who was that red-haired underclassman? Uh… if it's inconvenient to say, forget it."
"Not inconvenient," Aoki said. "I joined a band recently. Kita-san is the singer and rhythm guitarist. She asks me guitar stuff."
"Oh…" Hachiman nodded.
Aoki added, "Speaking of the band… Hachiman, we're close friends, right?"
Hachiman flinched. "Close… what now?"
He froze and took a step back.
Aoki ignored it, took two steps, then turned.
"I joined a band to place in a record label's contest in two months. I dumped all my time into training, so I quit my jobs. Which means…"
"If I don't place in two months, I'll probably be living on grass for a while… Hachiman, as a close friend, you won't just watch me starve, right?"
"…"
Hachiman's mouth twitched.
He did have spare allowance; he could help. He nodded.
Aoki waved it off without looking back. "Borrowing money for food from someone else is too much. I'm kidding."
"Hey… you…"
Hachiman's eye twitched harder. Still, he worried:
Was that really a joke…? Quitting jobs to chase a band result—what shōnen protagonist gamble is this…
...
Their chat ended as Aoki went upstairs to the club.
Hachiman headed home; Aoki entered the Service Club.
Although he considered Yukino an "enemy," neither spoke much when alone.
She read. He studied.
As Hiratsuka had said, there were no requests. "Club activity" consisted of two people sitting there, waiting.
The new era's "waiting for a rabbit"…
Holding a "100 Daily English Phrases" booklet, Aoki's brain drifted when he hit "get on a gravy train."
Then a voice cut in.
Clear as ice, with a blade of chill:
"Aoki-kun, please stop staring at me. If you keep it up, I'll call the police."
He snapped back and realized his gaze had drifted to her legs.
Everyone's done this—when thinking hard, your eyes settle somewhere comfortable.
So yes, this was unconscious behavior.
But…
Peering at Yukino's pantyhose-sheened legs, he evaluated:
The tights looked thick—maybe 60D or higher—but even that couldn't hide that dangerous "absolute territory"…
—Aoki totally learned that from a purely educational book. Studying such knowledge was also—unconscious.
He readied a defense.
But before he could open his mouth, the game popped up again—three options:
[Yukinoshita questions you. Innocent, you of course defend yourself. You say—]
[1: Ignore her, feign confusion, try to muddle through. (Reward: Proficient Tea Ceremony)]
[2: As your report-card rival, she questioned you. Backing down is losing; explaining is confessing. You launch a dazzling counterattack! (Reward: Language-Learning Gift)]
[3: You are guiltless! Explain and apologize. Earn her forgiveness. (Reward: 200 points)]
Aoki chose instantly.
Ignore rewards. Option 2 was right.
Back down = pointless loss. Explaining = admitting guilt.
Yukinoshita, perennial #1. Aoki's only rival at Shūka…
With enemies, mercy is the least needed—
He drew breath and said:
"Yukinoshita-san, I'm not interested in a figure as underdeveloped as a kindergartener's. Please respect me."
-------
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