The Issue With Her Arrow Pointing at Me Being Way Too Big
“……………”
“…This is hopeless.”
After the closing ceremony ended, I kept staring at my own palm.
Sasuke was giving off a troubled vibe beside me, but I was so completely absorbed by the lingering sensation on my palm that I didn’t care about any of that.
“You’ve been opening and closing your hand this whole time… What’s up with that? It’s like you’re touching a girl’s boobs for the first time and can’t forget it.”
“……………”
“Huh? Seriously?”
“…Huh? Did you say something?”
“…Nothing.”
Sasuke sighed, muttered “I’m leaving,” and walked straight out of the classroom.
Truthfully, I understood exactly what he meant, and I was shocked he’d nailed it so perfectly… but I wanted to applaud myself for pulling off such a smooth cover-up.
“…Damn, I’m getting nervous.”
Even with what happened during lunch break, today was actually study group day.
Ayaka had probably already left the classroom for the library, so I needed to get going soon to avoid keeping her waiting… but, like I’ve been saying, my brain was still reeling from the lunch break incident.
“Aren’t you going home?”
“Huh?”
But that thought was cut short.
She was someone who normally wouldn’t speak to me… Asumi, who I’d had a run-in with today, was standing right beside me, looking down at me.
“Asumi?”
“Yeah. So you’re not going home?”
“…Well, I have something to do.”
“Hmm?”
What…?
Asumi looked at me with apparent interest. After a moment of silence… she slowly opened her mouth.
“You’re not half bad, you know.”
“…Thanks?”
“From a distance, you seemed intimidating to those around you. But actually talking to you like this, I can see that’s not really the case.”
Um… What exactly is Asumi trying to do by saying this?
“I’ve been thinking about what you said, and a lot of other things. Picking on Otonashi was partly just to vent… Even though I was in a bad mood, I feel like I did that girl wrong.”
“What? You’re surprisingly honorable.”
“Don’t add ‘surprisingly’… It’s just, you know, I’ve never been called out like that before… And that made me kind of… like you.”
“Well… I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“You better.”
Saying that, Asumi leaned in close.
Even though we were kept at arm’s length like this, Asumi’s refined features and great figure were more than enough to make her popular.
Having her face right up close was a shock, but my experience with Ayaka had apparently given me some resilience in a good way.
“You know… you really care about Otonashi, don’t you?”
“…I suppose we get along well.”
“Of course you do… Otonashi looked happy when you were protecting her, and above all, those eyes showed she trusted you with her heart.”
“……………”
“And the way you looked at Otonashi seemed special too. I think I’m pretty good at reading people? I don’t think I’m wrong about that part, am I?”
“I don’t know.”
If we’re talking about whether it’s special, I can confidently say it’s different from others.
It’s because we get along well… but lately, I’ve started wondering if that’s really all there is to it.
All of this is because of that… letting me touch her chest and stuff.
“Well, whatever. I’ll just keep watching with interest to see how things turn out for you two.”
“Huh? You don’t have to.”
“Don’t say that… I absolutely love romantic comedies. So I’m expecting all sorts of things, you know~?”
This… I might have gotten myself into trouble.
I sighed at Asumi’s beaming face, but getting along like this with someone I’d had that kind of exchange with wasn’t a bad thing.
More than that, talking like this had pretty much wiped out any bad feelings I had toward Asumi.
“…Oh, right.”
“Hm?”
“If you’re around, I won’t have to worry about anything, but there’s that third-year senior, Mikuni, right?”
“Come to think of it, there was someone like that.”
I remembered him, but of course, I’d never spoken to him.
His face didn’t immediately come to mind, but he looked like a delinquent… no, that senior was definitely a delinquent, and the teachers were at their wits’ end with him.
“I heard this from a friend, but that guy… apparently he’s got his sights set on her, Otonashi? Not in a romantic way, mind you, but more like he wants to find some weakness to exploit and get her into a physical relationship.”
“…Huh?”
“Hehe, you’ve got good eyes, don’t you? Well, if I hear anything, I’ll let you know.”
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. See ya.”
Waving her hand flutteringly, Asumi left the classroom.
…Mikuni-senpai, huh… I see, I see. I’ll keep that in mind.
“Man… no, seriously, that pissed me off.”
Asumi didn’t seem to be lying, so it was probably true.
Knowing Ayaka made me unable to forgive anyone who tried to hurt her… but at this point, I might just have to accept it.
I absolutely can’t forgive someone who would do that to someone I care about… I’m not Ayaka’s boyfriend or anything, but still, the thought of someone trying to get their hands on her made me sick.
“…Alright, let’s get moving.”
Maybe it was hearing that story, but I wanted to get to Ayaka right now.
I worried that if I headed straight to her in the library and found this Mikuni-senpai guy there, but thankfully, things didn’t work out that conveniently.
Today, as usual, she was sitting alone in the back corner of the library.
“Ah, you finally came.”
“Sorry, I got a little late.”
For now… Don’t think about it, me… Don’t do it.
I told myself that as I sat down next to Ayaka, but she moved her chair closer—right up next to mine, close enough our shoulders touched.
“…”
“You are thinking about it… Right? About lunch.”
“H-Hey, now…!”
“Ehehe…♪”
Watching Ayaka laugh so happily… well, it kind of kills my desire to complain.
No, actually, am I even in a position to complain? I did what I wanted to do too, so complaining now would just be asking for karma to come back on me.
“…Oh, right, Ayaka.”
“What?”
I should probably tell her.
“Do you know a third-year named Mikuni-senpai?”
“…Sorry, I don’t think I know him.”
“Yeah, right… He’s one of the delinquents.”
“Delinquents… Why are you telling me this?”
I relayed exactly what Asumi had told me.
Ayaka looked stunned, but gradually, what appeared on her face was unease… I didn’t mean to scare her, it was just meant as a warning, but I get it—it must be scary for her.
“It’s okay. As long as I’m here, I won’t let anyone lay a finger on Ayaka.”
“Amato-kun…”
Yeah… All I have to do is protect her.
I’ve said it many times before, but since we’re getting along like this, I want to keep protecting Ayaka… I want to keep this relationship going.
It’s too embarrassing to tell her, but one reason I genuinely enjoy school life right now is definitely because of how Ayaka treats me like this.
“So that means…”
“Hm?”
“It means I’m… yours, right?”
“Wh-what!?”
How did it come to that!?
I let out a loud gasp and immediately shut my mouth… but I’m sure the few other patrons heard it.
After clearing my throat, I lowered my voice and leaned closer.
“It’s just because I’m worried! That’s all!”
“Really…?”
“Really! …And why are you saying it like that?”
“Ehehe, sorry, Amato-kun. Thank you… I’m happy you’re worried about me.”
Her smile was beautiful, as if saying her words held no falsehood.
“If something happens… no, even if nothing happens, is it okay to rely on you, Amato-kun?”
“Of course you can. Seriously, why are you asking now?”
“Yeah… I guess. I’m really happy you said that.”
“…Ah, but—”
“What is it?”
“That story… Who did you hear it from?”
“Ah, I heard it from Asumi.”
In that instant, Ayaka’s aura seemed to shift.
Maiasa