The Issue With Her Arrow Pointing at Me Being Way Too Big
โโฆHuh?โ
During lunch break, I was relaxing on the rooftop when I got a message from Mom.
โCould you pick up some vegetables and meat on your way home?โ
It was a short message, but I basically never refuse Mom’s requests.
Mom supports the family from home, Dad from outsideโฆ The fact I’ve grown up so well is all thanks to such admirable parents.
โโฆBut you knowโฆโ
There’s just one problem when she asks me for favors like this.
Shopping to fulfill Mom’s request is fineโฆ but when someone with my appearance walks into a supermarket, it just draws attention.
โLast time I went, the cashier totally freaked outโฆโ
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 distanceโฆ Oh well, can’t be helped.
โHmmโฆ hmm hmm hmm.โ
โWhat’s with the hmm hmm hmm?โ
โโฆHuh?โ
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.
โAyaka, what are you doing?โ
โWhat do you mean? I wanted to talk to you, Amato-kun. I mean, look, my break got interrupted, right?โ
โInterruptedโฆ Tokui would cry if he heard you say that.โ
โWhy? He’s the one who misunderstood things on his own and interrupted my time.โ
Ahโฆ 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 โscaryโ is relative to her usual selfโto me, she wasn’t scary at all.
(I figured she must have said somethingโฆ 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.
โSo, why were you grumbling โHmmmmโ?โ
โWellโฆ ahโ
Ping! A brilliant idea popped into my head.
โHey, Ayaka, if it’s okay with youโฆโ
โHuh? What?โ
โWould you mind going shopping with me after school?โ
โShopping? Sure, I’d love to.โ
It was a spur-of-the-moment suggestion, but Ayaka agreed without hesitation.
I’d expected her to at least pretend to think about itโฆ but anyway, I explained why I asked.
โI seeโฆ Ahaha, yeah, I guess some people might be scared.โ
โRight? So I figured if someone like you was there, the staff wouldn’t mind so much.โ
โI think you’re overthinking itโฆ But okay, I’ll go with you.โ
โThanks!โ
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.
โAyaka might say she doesn’t need anything, but I kinda want to do something to thank her for everythingโฆ Think of something for me.โ
โA thank-youโฆ huh?โ
Ayaka pondered deeply, then suddenly gasped.
She leaned in close, bringing her face right up to mineโฆ When I subtly pulled back, Ayaka pressed her whole body even closer.
โHey, that’s too close.โ
โIt’s fine this close.โ
No, it’s not fineโฆ
What did Ayaka suddenly think of?
โCan I ask you something now?โ
โIf it’s something I can do now, sure.โ
โI canโฆ It’s really simple.โ
โLike what?โ
โโฆI kind of want you to stroke my head.โ
โฆStroke her head?
I widened my eyes at this unexpected request, but Ayaka closed hers, waiting for the momentโฆ I hesitated for a second, but since that’s what she wanted, I reached out my hand.
โโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโ
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 softโฆ Actually, this was the first time I’d ever touched a girl’s hair.
โโฆEhehe, I wanted you to do this.โ
โI seeโฆโ
โWhy are you the one blushing, Amato-kun?โ
โWell, of course I’m blushingโฆ I mean, stroking a girl’s head like this isn’t exactly something you just do, is it?โ
โThat’s true, but you are not doing it without permission, right? I asked you to do it.โ
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 addictiveโI can’t pull my hand away.
โI don’t knowโฆ it just feels really nice.โ
โReally? That makes me happy.โ
โUnlike my spiky hair, you know.โ
โIsn’t that part of your personality? I think it suits you, Amato-kun.โ
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 reluctantโฆ 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.
โYou’re pretty much the only one I act like this with, Amato-kun? See, like when I’m around Nakazato-kunโฆ I just freeze up and can’t say anything. That’s just me.โ
โโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโ
โThinking about it, it’s really strange even to meโฆ 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.โ
โโฆDoesn’t that embarrass you, saying that?โ
โNot at all. What part of it is embarrassing?โ
Ah, this is turning into me getting teased insteadโฆ
Trying to prevent Ayaka from taking control, I cleared my throat loudlyโonly to get laughed at againโฆ Ah, yeah, I have to admit it.
I absolutely can’t win against girls!
โโฆHaa.โ
โUm, sorry, Amato-kun.โ
โDon’t apologize! It just makes me feel worse!โ
Butโฆ come to think of it, the only time I react this dramatically is when it’s just me and Ayakaโฆ 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.
โHey, Ayaka.โ
โHmm?โ
โI’m really happy we’ve become friends like thisโฆ 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.โ
โAmato-kunโฆโ
โDon’t bottle things up like some heroine in the manga you read. Lean on meโฆ okay?โ
โโฆOkay!โ
Ayaka smiled and nodded at my words.
ใโผโฝ
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 changeโฆ Still, when it came time to pay, having her there meant the clerk didn’t look tense.
โLook, I might come off as a delinquent, but I’m way better than those guys who run roughshod over society, right?โ
โHmm~โฆ I’m not so sure.โ
Hey, that’s where you’re supposed to nod and say โYeah, you’re rightโ!
I glared at Ayaka with a look I was confident would scare her, but she just smiled back without flinching at all.
โPeople who don’t know youโฆ 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.โ
โHuh? Waitโฆ you mean that’s how I look during class tooโฆ?โ
Huh? So that’s why the teacher always looks awayโฆ Hey Ayaka, please look me straight in the eye and deny itโฆ Hey Ayaka!”
โโฆI think I heard the teacher mutter something about not getting Amato-kun angry.โ
I didn’t want to hear thatโฆ!!
โโฆWell, whatever. Anyway, thanks for today, Ayaka.โ
โNo, I had fun too. But you walked me home again, didn’t you?โ
โIt’s already darkโฆ Even if you said it was fine, I came this far.โ
โYeahโฆ Thanks.โ
I turned to leave, saying โSee ya,โ but then Ayaka called out.
โHey, Amato kun! Are you freeโฆ on Saturdays or something?โ
โSaturdays? I was planning to hit the gym a bit on Saturdays.โ
โThe gymโฆ Can I come too!?โ
โHuh? Oh, sureโฆ Go ahead?โ
It was sudden, but Ayaka had joined my original plans.
Wait a minuteโฆ Isn’t this what you’d call a weekend dateโฆ?
Maiasa