The Issue With Her Arrow Pointing at Me Being Way Too Big
“…Huh?”
During lunch break, I was relaxing on the rooftop when I got a message from Mom.
‘Could you pick up some vegetables and meat on your way home?’
It was a short message, but I basically never refuse Mom’s requests.
Mom supports the family from home, Dad from outside… The fact I’ve grown up so well is all thanks to such admirable parents.
“…But you know…”
There’s just one problem when she asks me for favors like this.
Shopping to fulfill Mom’s request is fine… but when someone with my appearance walks into a supermarket, it just draws attention.
“Last time I went, the cashier totally freaked out…”
Seriously, I’m not the type to cause trouble.
The supermarket staff probably know that by now, but I still can’t help but notice when they subtly keep their distance… Oh well, can’t be helped.
“Hmm… hmm hmm hmm.”
“What’s with the hmm hmm hmm?”
“…Huh?”
I thought I was alone on the rooftop. When did she get there?
I looked up to find Ayaka standing there.
Our eyes met. She gave a little chuckle and sat down right next to me.
“Ayaka, what are you doing?”
“What do you mean? I wanted to talk to you, Amato-kun. I mean, look, my break got interrupted, right?”
“Interrupted… Tokui would cry if he heard you say that.”
“Why? He’s the one who misunderstood things on his own and interrupted my time.”
Ah… So she really doesn’t have feelings for Tokui after all.
Ayaka’s expression as she spoke was stern, scarier than I’d ever seen her look before. Though “scary” is relative to her usual self—to me, she wasn’t scary at all.
(I figured she must have said something… but that explains Tokui’s expression.)
After that incident, when I got back to class, he glared at me a bit.
Since my seat is right behind him, he looked away when I approached. But honestly, I don’t care what he said, so no need to ask.
“So, why were you grumbling ‘Hmmmm’?”
“Well… ah”
Ping! A brilliant idea popped into my head.
“Hey, Ayaka, if it’s okay with you…”
“Huh? What?”
“Would you mind going shopping with me after school?”
“Shopping? Sure, I’d love to.”
It was a spur-of-the-moment suggestion, but Ayaka agreed without hesitation.
I’d expected her to at least pretend to think about it… but anyway, I explained why I asked.
“I see… Ahaha, yeah, I guess some people might be scared.”
“Right? So I figured if someone like you was there, the staff wouldn’t mind so much.”
“I think you’re overthinking it… But okay, I’ll go with you.”
“Thanks!”
Man, that’s a huge help!
I was planning to go alone even without asking Ayaka, but this means I can shop with an unusual sense of ease.
“Ayaka might say she doesn’t need anything, but I kinda want to do something to thank her for everything… Think of something for me.”
“A thank-you… huh?”
Ayaka pondered deeply, then suddenly gasped.
She leaned in close, bringing her face right up to mine… When I subtly pulled back, Ayaka pressed her whole body even closer.
“Hey, that’s too close.”
“It’s fine this close.”
No, it’s not fine…
What did Ayaka suddenly think of?
“Can I ask you something now?”
“If it’s something I can do now, sure.”
“I can… It’s really simple.”
“Like what?”
“…I kind of want you to stroke my head.”
…Stroke her head?
I widened my eyes at this unexpected request, but Ayaka closed hers, waiting for the moment… I hesitated for a second, but since that’s what she wanted, I reached out my hand.
“……………”
The first thing I noticed when I placed my hand on Ayaka’s head was how incredibly silky smooth her hair felt.
It had a texture so fine it was hard to imagine it tangling around my fingers. Even from the outside, it was clear she took good care of it, but I never imagined it would be this soft… Actually, this was the first time I’d ever touched a girl’s hair.
“…Ehehe, I wanted you to do this.”
“I see…”
“Why are you the one blushing, Amato-kun?”
“Well, of course I’m blushing… I mean, stroking a girl’s head like this isn’t exactly something you just do, is it?”
“That’s true, but you are not doing it without permission, right? I asked you to do it.”
Honestly, she’s been throwing me off completely since earlier.
But honestly, the sensation of stroking a girl’s hair is completely new to me, and it feels so good it’s addictive—I can’t pull my hand away.
“I don’t know… it just feels really nice.”
“Really? That makes me happy.”
“Unlike my spiky hair, you know.”
“Isn’t that part of your personality? I think it suits you, Amato-kun.”
Well, I can’t imagine me with any other hairstyle now.
After petting her head for a while longer, when I finally pulled my hand away, Ayaka looked kind of reluctant… But compared to when we first talked, she’s gotten so much brighter, right?
When I asked her about it, it seems it’s only like this around me.
“You’re pretty much the only one I act like this with, Amato-kun? See, like when I’m around Nakazato-kun… I just freeze up and can’t say anything. That’s just me.”
“……………”
“Thinking about it, it’s really strange even to me… It’s a feeling I can’t quite explain, but being able to interact with you, Amato-kun, like this without feeling intimidated is a good change for me, and I’m happy about it.”
“…Doesn’t that embarrass you, saying that?”
“Not at all. What part of it is embarrassing?”
Ah, this is turning into me getting teased instead…
Trying to prevent Ayaka from taking control, I cleared my throat loudly—only to get laughed at again… Ah, yeah, I have to admit it.
I absolutely can’t win against girls!
“…Haa.”
“Um, sorry, Amato-kun.”
“Don’t apologize! It just makes me feel worse!”
But… come to think of it, the only time I react this dramatically is when it’s just me and Ayaka… Thinking about it, that’s kind of weird too.
Maybe because we talked for so long, lunch break was almost over.
After making plans to meet up after school, I suddenly remembered something and told Ayaka.
“Hey, Ayaka.”
“Hmm?”
“I’m really happy we’ve become friends like this… I am too. So if you ever have any troubles, or something you find hard to talk to anyone else about, don’t hesitate to lean on me.”
“Amato-kun…”
“Don’t bottle things up like some heroine in the manga you read. Lean on me… okay?”
“…Okay!”
Ayaka smiled and nodded at my words.
▼▽
After school, I kept my promise and had Ayaka come shopping with me.
When I went into the supermarket alone, I felt eyes darting my way. Even with Ayaka beside me, that didn’t change… Still, when it came time to pay, having her there meant the clerk didn’t look tense.
“Look, I might come off as a delinquent, but I’m way better than those guys who run roughshod over society, right?”
“Hmm~… I’m not so sure.”
Hey, that’s where you’re supposed to nod and say “Yeah, you’re right”!
I glared at Ayaka with a look I was confident would scare her, but she just smiled back without flinching at all.
“People who don’t know you… well, people who don’t know what’s inside you might find it scary, right? Even when we study together, when you get that intense look, it’s like you could shoot someone dead.”
“Huh? Wait… you mean that’s how I look during class too…?”
Huh? So that’s why the teacher always looks away… Hey Ayaka, please look me straight in the eye and deny it… Hey Ayaka!”
“…I think I heard the teacher mutter something about not getting Amato-kun angry.”
I didn’t want to hear that…!!
“…Well, whatever. Anyway, thanks for today, Ayaka.”
“No, I had fun too. But you walked me home again, didn’t you?”
“It’s already dark… Even if you said it was fine, I came this far.”
“Yeah… Thanks.”
I turned to leave, saying “See ya,” but then Ayaka called out.
“Hey, Amato kun! Are you free… on Saturdays or something?”
“Saturdays? I was planning to hit the gym a bit on Saturdays.”
“The gym… Can I come too!?”
“Huh? Oh, sure… Go ahead?”
It was sudden, but Ayaka had joined my original plans.
Wait a minute… Isn’t this what you’d call a weekend date…?
Maiasa