ISN'T THIS JUST AS PREDICTED?*
*Pheww…*
*"Hmm, why do you sound so depressed?" Yui asked.*
*"Nothing much. Just thinking about something," I replied, scratching my finger on the table.*
*"Fuka-chan… I've missed you so much."*
*"Can't you just stop whining?"*
*"But…"*
*"She'll come back if she's okay, I guess."*
*"Hmmmmmm…"*
*"Stop humming."*
*"Ah—what's wrong with you?" she asked.*
*"What do you mean?"*
*"You look like you're thinking hard about something. Is it something you can share? Big sis is here for you."*
*I turned to her. "Then, will you be my girlfriend?"*
*"Eh?! What the hell was that?!"*
*"Then you shouldn't stick your nose into things that aren't your business."*
*"Oy!! Hananoi, I swear I'll kill you someday!"*
*"That'd be a great help."*
*I think it's time to get a girlfriend. My phone has gotten too boring, and it's just for fun—like she said. No need for "I admire you" or "I love you" jargon.*
*"Yui, it's almost time, and business is slow. I think I'll excuse myself."*
*"Do whatever you want."*
*I left the place and went straight home.*
---
**The next day at school…**
*Solemn rain fell as I stared out the window.*
*Tap. Tap.*
*"Wake up, wake up! Why are you spacing out?" Misaki said.*
*"Nothing. I just feel like something's out of place," I replied.*
*"Whatever it is, the release is coming very soon."*
*"Eh?! That's nice. Break a leg."*
*"Thanks. Here, take this strawberry parfait—I got it from the school restaurant."*
*"Thanks. Mmm, it's delicious."*
*"I've gotta go somewhere."*
*"Treasure yourself more. There are people who mean a lot to you."*
*What the hell was that—a motivational speech? "Treasure"? That sucks. It's like trash calling itself the king of nonsense, I thought to myself.*
*Enough. Time to find a new girlfriend.*
*As I moved down the hallway, I ran into my arch-nemesis.*
*"Hananoi, break time's almost over. Shouldn't you be heading back to class instead of—?"*
*"Just leave me alone, Teach. I'm not in the mood for trash."*
*"Hananoi, did you just—?"*
*I left for the music club, but the place was barely alive—no one was there.*
*"Well, maybe later," I muttered.*
*On the stairs leading downstairs, I bumped into Sakura.*
*"Hananoi-senpai, why are you on this floor?"*
*"Nothing much. Have you seen Chisato?"*
*"Yeah, she said she's going to the student council office."*
*Ah, crap. I forgot about the vice president's request. My face twisted slightly in disgust.*
*"What's with that unsettling look?" she asked.*
*"Nothing. Just thought of something."*
*"Then, see you later."*
*"Are you on your way to give your response to senpai?"*
*Her words made me halt and glance back.*
*"What about it?" I answered.*
*"Just… don't hurt her. She's the heart of the music club. I don't want her depressed," she replied, her expression concerned.*
*"Don't worry. I don't reject ladies."*
*She gave a half-hearted smile. "Then no problem."*
*"Later, then."*
*Damn, I almost thought she was another Fuka, I mused as I walked downstairs.*
*Bump!*
*"I-I'm sorry! So sorry!" a soft voice stammered.*
*"No, I should be the one apologizing—I was coming down the stairs."*
*I helped her pick up her books.*
*CUTE.*
*The word slipped out the moment I saw her—petite, with a baby-faced look.*
*"Did you just say something?" she asked.*
*"No, it's nothing," I denied quickly.*
*"Thanks." She hurried off.*
*"Huh. Never knew Himari could have a smooth conversation with someone like you."*
*Fuyuki.*
*"What, you're here?" she said.*
*"That's my line," I shot back.*
*"What do you mean by 'someone like me'?"*
*"She's the shy type—hardly starts a conversation first."*
*"So that's it. And why are you still wearing your basketball jersey?"*
*"We have a game at 2 PM. Just training until then."*
*"Okay. Later, then."*
*"Where are you going?"*
*"Student council office," I replied.*
*"Do you have business there?" she pressed.*
*"Hmm, sort of—"*
*"Fuyuki!!!" a voice roared.*
*I turned to see one of her teammates calling her.*
*"Later, Hananoi-kun."*
*I entered the office—the door was left ajar, as if I was on some waiting list.*
*"Hananoi-san, are you here to give my books?" she asked.*
*"Ah, sorry. I forgot. I'll bring them tomorrow."*
*"The weekend's coming up, so we might not see each other until Monday."*
*"No problem," I replied.*
*I left the office. In the end, I didn't see Chisato at all that day. My arch-nemesis called me in and scolded me, but it didn't faze me.*
*I arrived at the bar that evening, a few minutes late. Business was packed.*
*Time to help out. A song played on repeat the entire night.*
*Well, can't blame —it's a nice track.*