Once breakfast was eaten and all the dishes were cleaned, Takei and Akari prepared to depart from the house.
They both put on their outdoor shoes and locked the door before them as they left.
Before taking a step off the porch, Akari stared at him intently with no intention to move.
With absolutely no idea what she wanted, Takei decided to approach the topic cautiously.
"Is there something you want from me?"
In response to Takei's question, Akari lightly nodded and pointed to his hand.
I think she wants to hold hands while walking to school?
Although the action of holding hands was very natural to them, it was still embarrassing to do it with a lot of other people around them.
Nonetheless, Takei didn't want to make Akari sad.
He grasped her hand with his non-dominant hand and looked straight forward, making sure that the front of his face wouldn't be revealed to her.
Akari's expression brightened up immediately after Takei grasped her hand firmly.
"Thank you, your hand is very soothing and reliable to me."
Blushing faintly, Akari scooted in even closer to him and closed the already nonexistent distance between them.
Takei couldn't endure the increasing shame anymore, so he proposed that they hurry up and go to school already.
"Shall we?"
"Yep, I'm so excited to show everyone."
They both began to walk towards the direction of school together, with their fingers interlocked.
As they walked, Takei tried to think of what would happen to his peaceful future now that everyone would know at school.
Everyone knew that he had a special relationship with Akari, but they knew that their relationship was only of friends.
How would everyone at school react once they knew that the both of them had started dating?
"Hey, is this really a good idea showing off our relationship to everyone?"
Takei was afraid of the change that would forever change their lives.
"I believe it would be beneficial for the both of us. It would let everyone know that either of us are off-limits to the opposite gender."
Taking a more logical approach to the topic rather than emotional, Akari expertly explained the benefits that this would give them.
Hearing her explain so clearly, Takei nodded and understood where she was coming from.
What was there even to be afraid of?
Takei had seen what true malice inside a human heart could do, but he had a literal goddess at his side this time.
With Akari standing next to him, he would be able to face any obstacle in their way.
After cursing himself for being so self-deprecating in the morning, Takei grasped Akari's hand even tighter to let her know that he was grateful for her presence.
In response, she turned and gave him one of her million dollar smiles that shone more radiantly than the sun.
As they got closer to the school, there were more familiar uniforms popping up around them.
All of the students were shocked that Takei and Akari were holding hands, but they quickly recovered after realizing the likelihood that something was already going on between them for a long time.
It seemed that the sugary atmosphere that they sometimes exuded at school helped the other students slowly accept their relationship.
Only this time, the sugary atmosphere was infinitely stronger than ever before.
Finally reaching the front gates of the school, Takei and Akari boldly walked into the school while still holding hands.
Entering the shoe changing area, they encountered some familiar people that they wanted to talk to.
Eiji, Ryuto, and Helena were leaning against a locker, as if they were waiting for them.
Takei seemed confused at the convenient situation, so he turned to the only culprit that he could think of.
Ignoring Takei's suspicious gaze, Akari averted her gaze and began to whistle a tune.
She probably told Helena and it most likely spread from there...
Takei walked up to the group and tried his best to ignore the incoming migraine.
"Hey, everyone."
All three of them looked at him curiously due to his brief greeting, as they directed their attention to the pair of hands that were still intertwined.
"Ah, we got together thanks to everyone. Thank you very much."
With that being said, Takei and Akari bowed in front of them.
Eiji was the first one to respond to the gratitude directed towards him.
"It was a tiring, yet satisfying task. I would love to do something like this again. Maybe I'll do something at your wedding?"
"I'm never complimenting you ever again."
As per usual, Takei and Eiji bantered due to the one of them acting stupid.
"Oh my stars. I'm so proud of you two. I wish that sir and madam will have a beautiful life together."
"Um, thank you?"
In response to Ryuto's weird way of blessing them, Akari answered him with a questioning tone.
The last one left was Helena, who was trying her best to stifle her growing smile.
"You finally did it, Akarin! You defeated the densest person in the whole galaxy!"
Helena jumped up and whooped for joy due to Akari's efforts finally bearing fruit.
Hearing this, Akari wryly smiled while Takei started to question his manliness.
As this was happening, Takei noticed two people approaching them from the corner of his eye.
It turned out that Rikka and Arisa had just made it to school and were witnessing the early morning shenanigans that their group was doing.
When they finally reached the group, Takei thanked them as well for their hard efforts in helping him and Akari get together.
Rikka and Arisa accepted the gratitude wholeheartedly, but there was oddly a lingering shadow behind their smile.
Dismissing the thought as just his imagination, Takei was happy to see that all of his friends were supporting his new relationship.
Everyone in the school seemed to be content with it as well, besides the envious boys.
Some of the girls were happy to see Akari get hitched, since that meant the boys would finally look at them.
With everything in his life finally in order and nothing to hold him back anymore, Takei cheerfully smiled at the group in front of him.
One last time, Takei wished to convey his genuine feelings from the very bottom of his heart.
"Thank you everyone, I really mean it."
---
Idiot Couple Meter: 5 -> 8%
Here they go flaunting their relationship again at school...
Serious-san: They make me want to get into a serious relationship as well
Sugar-san: Who would date the epitome of seriousness such as yourself?