Chapter 93: Meeting Kana Again

To think that our group will be the little episode for this day. Haa.

It's all because of this Sakuma. Well, that took the boredom out of everyone.

When Sakuma couldn't retort to my words the whole class laughed at it. And that brightened the room.

Lunch break soon arrived.

I went to the cafeteria and intended to pass the time there.

There won't be another training session for the time being, anyway.

Nami is with her group of friends, somewhere in this cafeteria.

I looked for a corner to settle with but on one of the tables near me, I saw Kana.

She's not with Kenji but with a bunch of her fellow 3rd-year girls. Her friends?

Where's that Kenji guy? Did she finally resolve their issues?

I took out my phone and sent a mail to her. These days we only greeted each other through mails, she didn't want me to worry for her so she only gave me minimum details about what's truly happening.

She's determined to resolve it by herself before she faces me again.

"Kana, look to your left."

I saw her taking out her phone and after reading the content of the mail, she followed what's written on it.

Our gazes met each other and I raised my hand to wave to her.

She immediately smiled upon seeing me. 

Ah. This girl…

It's only been 3 days since I saw her, seeing her smile like that, I couldn't help but smile back at her.

Her friends saw that and followed her gaze.

I couldn't hear what they were talking about but after a while, Kana stood up and walked towards me.

Her friends were all smiles cheering for her from their seats.

Ah. I know what's on their mind. I guess they're trying to cheer her up. Something really happened between her and that Kenji. Otherwise, Kana wouldn't be with them.

She timidly walked from there to where I am. Her cute and shy personality never changes. Especially here in a public place.

She sat in front of me and smiled again.

Ah. I really miss this smile of hers. It's always this refreshing.

There's no doubt, I really like this cute and shy senpai. Will I love her as well? Maybe soon.

I also want to spend time with her again. She's older and knows more than me. I might learn something from her.

"Your friends?"

I asked when she finally settled. She couldn't look straight at me and she's already red from embarrassment.

"Un. They pushed me when they saw me smiling at you."

Her voice was soft, afraid that the other students could hear her.

"Ah. Then I have to give my thanks to them."

"You're teasing me again…"

"Sorry, I just missed my Kana."

"…Someone might hear you."

Right. She's really wary of our surroundings. Even when she's with Kenji or her friends, she only timidly sits with them.

Now, I'm making her embarrassed by calling her out and talking with her like this.

"I'm just being honest."

"Uhh… I miss you too."

Kana whispered in a soft voice that only I could hear. Her face reddened further after saying that and she started fidgeting in her seat.

We're slowly gaining attention from other students. It's unnatural for a 3rd year and 1st year to be alone on the same table.

I don't even know what her friends will think about us. Since Kenji isn't here, did she finally break up with that guy?

"How are you, Kana-senpai?"

Since this is a public place, I tried putting senpai on her name again.

She didn't mind it. She's sharper than I thought after all. She saw through me way before.

But I also want to do something normal with Kana and the other girls like how I accompanied Aya to the bookstore yesterday. Maybe I'll ask them when we're alone.

"We're mailing each other, Ruki-kun."

"Right, but I want to hear it from you directly, Kana-senpai."

"Eh? Be honest and say you don't believe me. Are you worried?"

"Err… Yes."

We kept our voice to a minimum and it's not like someone will purposely listen to us.

I'm really worried that she's pushing herself.

She said she wanted to resolve it by herself but all this time she never stood up like that. She wanted to change and that's good, great even.

I just don't know if she can take it, I want to support her at least.

"As I thought. But now that I get to see you, I can tell something changed from you, again."

She leaned on the table for a bit and stared at my face.

"Kana-senpai, looks like I won't be able to hide things from you."

Right. She also saw that something changed from me the last time I met her. She's always this sharp. But she just dodged my question by turning our topic to me. This girl… I guess I'll let that off, I'll wait until she wants to tell me by herself.

"You're just kind of bad at it. It shows on your face when you're with me. I don't know if it's because you're relaxed with me or it's the same when you're with the other girls"

She explained. Nami didn't notice it as well as Satsuki and Aya. If I didn't tell them they wouldn't know. Haruko noticed it but it's because I put my feelings for her in front.

But Kana, just one look at my face and she already determined that something changed.

"I want to tell you about it, wanna go home with me later, Kana-senpai?"

I blurted that out and it immediately garnered some attention around us.

"Muu... Don't ask that here."

She became flustered once again. I forgot we're in public.

"Ah. Right. Sorry. But I already asked."

I scratched my head but I already said it, I don't know anyone who heard it anyway. I'm just asking a senpai to go home together.

"It's refreshing to see you being this rash. You always look like someone who tries to control the situation."

Kana commented. And she's right.

I always tried to be as obscure as possible by controlling the situation but since yesterday, that changed. I even walked with Aya to the bookstore while holding hands.

Am I loosening up? Will this be fine? Rumors about me are growing. Should I go back to being obscure and not do things that will let me stand out?

Ah. I guess I'm way past that. I'm already standing out. I just have to protect these girls. I'll be careful not to put them in these kinds of situations.

But looking at it right now, I really want to show everyone that she's mine, not bothering about what others will think.

Remembering that emotion is really changing me. First with Nami and now here with Kana.

I really like her, that's why I'm having these thoughts.

"And it's rare seeing you talking a lot. Look at your friends, they have their mouths open."

I pointed at her friends who were still looking at us from their seat. 

Looks like seeing her holding a conversation with someone is a rare sight for them.

"Eh? Ah! You bully... It's because of you. I seem to become more open and talkative when it's you, Ruki."

She turned and looked at them. She confirmed it and turned back to me, glaring cutely.

She was already this relaxed when talking to me. Unlike our first encounters where it's mostly me talking. Did I open her up?

Since Monday, she started opening up to me. Could it be she only shows that side of her to me? 

"I like hearing your voice like this, Kana-senpai."

I wanted to tease her again.

Ah. I just really missed this shy and cute senpai. 

"You really won't stop..."

"No. I'll stop now. So, what's your answer Kana-senpai?"

She stared at me for a minute before nodding.

Kana agreed to go home with me later.

After that, she stood up and went back to her friends. I already made her embarrassed so I didn't stop her. Talking to her just now already made me satisfied. And well, it's refreshing to see her in public without that Kenji guy around.

I saw them teasing her but she kept her mouth shut while occasionally looking at me.

In the end, her friends got tired of teasing her and they finished their lunch.

I waved at her when they're about to go back and she did the same. Her friends saw that and this time, they sent me a thumbs up.

These girls…

Well, at least they didn't come to my table and interrogate me.

I also finished eating my lunch when they left.

There's no point staying here now since I'm not looking for a new target. And I got a glimpse on the table where Nami and her friends were located.

When I was about to go back to the class, someone called out to me.

Ah. No. She chased after me.

Mori.

"Onoda, have you heard from her?"

She started. Her eyes were a bit puffy.

Eh? Did she cry?

Err… I see. If it's her, she probably knew Ogawa already confessed.

But later, Nami will introduce me instead of him as her boyfriend. That will surely confuse her.

"Yes. Wanna hear the rest of the plan now?"

I told her before that I couldn't tell her how we could separate the two. I refrained from telling her about me posing as Nami's boyfriend.

"That's the reason why I chased you but I already have an idea what it will be. I just want to confirm if you're still up for it."

"Of course. Don't worry. I still feel my desire for you and especially for Nami."

I'm not as keen on my chances with her than on Nami, but since she's here and she's really one of my current targets, I can't pass up on that.

"So you're calling her Nami now, something happened between the two of you?"

"You'll know later."

Nami will bring me to their club later so she will know what happened between us. Ah. I still don't know which club it is.

"I don't care either way. You'll get your chance with me but you better make sure it will happen. And remember, you told me you won't do anything to me unless I gave you permission."

"Don't be a worrywart, Mori. I'll uphold our deal."

"Okay. That's all. I'll go back to them."

"Sure."

I stared at her back until she disappeared to the busy cafeteria.

Like Kanzaki, she's putting her guard up against me. Well, after what I did back then, this is a normal reaction.

But now that the plan will start, I will now have time with her.