CH 21

It’s Monday, the first day of the week, and a lot has really happened in the last week.

As well as my relationship with Ayana, which has progressed once again, it was significant that I was able to have a proper talk with Seina. Now I can say that there are almost no obstacles in my relationship with Ayana. I’m concerned about Shu, but Ayana said I don’t need to worry about it, and even though I’ll eventually have a chance to talk to him about it ……, I don’t think I should worry too much about it.

While I was thinking about this, the person I was waiting for showed up.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. Towa-kun.”

It was Ayana, looking the same as usual, but with an expression that somehow did not hide her happiness. I thought I was used to seeing her smile last week, but it still makes me happy to see it again and again.

“Don’t be, I just got here. Shall we go then?”

“Yes!”

And this is another different part, from today there was no Shu among us. Ayana sent him a message apologizing for everything that had happened and saying that she wanted to be with me as much as possible from now on. She didn’t get a reply, but Ayana didn’t seem to be bothered by it anymore, saying that she was fine with it.

We walked together, holding hands naturally. The path that we have been walking for a long time, but for some reason, it seemed new and different today. I wonder if it’s because the girl next to me has become something special.

“School is near, huh?”

“Yes, it is.”

As we got closer to school, we started to see other students and acquaintances here and there. Some people didn’t seem to care that we were holding hands, while others seemed bothered by it and their gazes started to gather on us. I realized that I couldn’t get used to this kind of attention, and I wanted to tell Ayana about it, but she just smiled and nodded. She didn’t let go of my hand, and her grip even became stronger, as if to show that she never wanted to let go.

“I want it to stay like this.”

Her words were faint, but I heard it clearly. Well… there’s no need to hide it, and it’s not something to be embarrassed about. I firmly grasped Ayana’s hand back, and she looked at me in surprise, but soon showed a happy smile like a blooming flower.

As we passed through the school gate, the number of eyes looking at us increased, and even the student council president, who was greeting everyone, noticed us. She looked at our faces in turn, and then her eyes widened in surprise as she saw our linked hands.

I bowed my head to her, and Ayana followed suit, probably because she thought Ayana liked Shu. If this was the case with Iori-san, then Mari would probably have a similar reaction.

As we changed our shoes at the shoe lockers and walked down the hallway, I thought it was time to let go of Ayana’s hand, but she held my hand again. As a result, we received even more attention than we did outside, but seeing Ayana so happy, I couldn’t bring myself to let go of her hand.

“…Such a luxurious problem.”

It really was a luxurious problem.

Ayana looked at me curiously as I smiled wryly, and was about to reach out to pat my head to convey that it was nothing, but she stopped herself. However, Ayana, who was still looking at my hand, seemed somewhat dissatisfied, and muttered that it was okay, puffing out her cheeks, which was really cute.

When we finally entered the classroom, all the students’ eyes were on us. I said goodbye to Ayana and went to my own seat. As I sat down, Aisaka tapped me on the shoulder.

“Good morning. That thing just now… is it possible?”

“I confessed and we started going out.”

“Kuuuu~! I’m jealous of you for getting such a beautiful woman!”

Stop hitting me with your fist.

As Aisaka was complaining to me when Ayana was being congratulated by her female friends. In the midst of it, Ayana noticed me looking at her and waved her hand, which was easy to understand.

“The princess is waving her hand.”

“I know.”

When I looked back and waved, Ayana looked really happy. Then the boy next to me blushed and looked down, and the girl next to him hit him… Oh, come to think of it, they are a couple, aren’t they?

I guess it’s a bit of a relief to look away from the apologetic boy and see Ayana smiling happily surrounded by her friends.

“Speaking of which, what about you?”

“What do you mean?”

I ask Aisaka, who tilts his head.

I don’t find it funny that only I get teased by Aisaka. I would love to hear about his love life.

“Don’t you have anyone you like?”

“…Is it really that important?”

Aisaka rubbed his bald head, looking embarrassed. This means he definitely has someone he likes. I was going to continue questioning him, but just then, Shu appeared. Shu didn’t even look at me and just went straight to his seat. He glanced at Ayana, who was still surrounded by her friends, and then lowered his head and rested it on his desk as usual.

Honestly, this awkward relationship between us made me feel strange considering our previous connection. But I don’t regret it at all. I confessed my feelings to Ayana and exchanged them with her of my own free will. That’s why I don’t want to do anything that would make Ayana worry about others. As Ayana said, there’s no need for anyone’s permission or approval when someone falls in love with someone else.

“….Good timing, Sasaki.”

“…Ah”

Damn, I completely forgot about listening to the baldie’s story.

I gave Aisaka an envious look as he breathed a sigh of relief and fled to his seat, grinning. I’ll definitely get him to tell me someday.

I had made up my mind, but what awaited me was the same old daily routine. We finished our morning classes and headed to the courtyard with our lunches. While having fun and enjoying each other’s company, we exchanged dishes and Ayana even treated me to some of her food. But in the midst of it all, Ayana suddenly looked up.

“……I still want to make Towa-kun’s lunch.”

“My mother is the only one who can do this. ……”

“……Muu.”

We eat our lunches and have a good time, sometimes being treated to Ayana’s side dishes while exchanging banter. In the midst of all this, Ayana suddenly looked up.

“….Ah”

I was so caught up in Ayana’s gaze that I looked in that direction too and noticed Shu was looking at me. As soon as Shu noticed Ayana’s gaze, he went away. I don’t mean to put it this way, but I certainly felt like I was being drained out of the time I was enjoying a little bit.

“It’s a little weird, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is. ……”

I was so surprised to hear her say it with a straight face that I immediately responded.

It’s a look that reminds me once again that no matter how much she has gotten over her past, Ayana still doesn’t like Shu. Perhaps it was wrong of me to stare at her so intently, but Ayana opened her mouth with her chest puffed out as if she had misunderstood something.

“Don’t worry, Towa-kun. I’m strong even though I look like this.”

“What?!”

Please don’t tell me that I hallucinated Ayana wearing a black hood when I was told that she was strong.

I was the one who raised my voice and made a comment, but I couldn’t stop eating my bento. As it was, when I finished eating and was slightly sleepy and absentminded, Ayana tapped her knee with a clomp.

“….To~wa-kun. Nobody is here~”

Ayana smiles and beckons me over, saying something like a comedian. With about 30 minutes left in my lunch break, I decided to take advantage of Ayana’s kindness.

I leaned toward Ayana and lay down so that my head was directly down in her lap.

“…..Fuwaa” (Yawn)

“I’ll make sure to wake you up, so don’t worry.”

“I feel like if it were up to you, you’d let me sleep through class just because you want to keep doing this.”

“If that’s what you want, I can do that.”

“Just make sure to wake me up, okay?”

“Hehe, I got it.”

I went to sleep for a while after that voice. Ayana kept stroking my head until I fell asleep.

Even if Ayana and I became lovers, nothing in particular would change. It may be that we are now able to communicate with each other in close proximity, something we have not been able to do in the past. Our relationship has become public, but no one is harassing us or anything. Shu has not been involved with us since then.

After school, it seemed that Shu was going to help Io in the Student Council room. Ayana and I enjoyed our time at school. However, it was also true that there were people who didn’t find our relationship amusing, as we had suspected.

“Ayana onee-chan!　What on earth are you doing?!　Why is he standing next to you and not Onii-chan!”

Kotone, Shu’s little sister, was glaring at me with rage in her eyes.