Chapter 6:
Milk Caramel ○2
[How many obstacles will you have to go through on the way to you?]
~The next day~
"Phew, it's so good that everything worked out! When Akemi-san fell asleep in my room, I thought I'd have to leave her here. But thank goodness she woke up just five minutes later."
- Eh, I was so overwhelmed with emotion that I couldn't sleep properly. I lay up all night remembering the previous day. Enough! Time to get ready for school. Pretty soon the third semester will be over, which means that it's time for final exams. I don't want to be late.
- Oni-chan! I've set the table, hurry up and come out.
- I'm on my way...
Final exam time is a time when the material learned during the semester is tested, but it is also an opportunity for students to show their level of knowledge both to themselves and their classmates.
Once inside the school, Kenta went to his locker to get a change of shoes. The upcoming exams were already being discussed by all the students at the school.
- Who do you think will come first in the final exams?
- Tamura-kun, of course. He's taken first place in every exam since he entered high school.
Class 1-2 of Leaver High School, as usual, was filled with the hum of a noisy crowd. Kenta sat down in his seat, picked up a book, and began to read, enjoying his moments of relaxation before class began. Suddenly, a crowd of boys and girls surrounded him. Everyone was looking at Kenta with enthusiastic faces. One of the girls standing near Kenta asked:
- Ieda-san, is it true that you and Akemi-san started dating?
- W-what...? Ah... Yes, it's true. Hehe.
Kenta looked around, hoping to see Akemi. He hoped Akemi could work it out with the crowds, but she wasn't in the classroom. Kenta quickly ran out of the crowd and ran into the hallway. Akemi was there, chatting merrily with her friends.
- Akemi-san, is it really true that you and Ieda-san started dating?
- Yes, it's the truth! - Akemi answered with a smile.
Kenta hid behind the wall, because he was a little embarrassed to hear how excited Akemi was about her relationship with Kenta.
Kenta stepped out into the street courtyard. The bright afternoon sun was still stinging the heads of all the passersby, making everyone wrinkle their faces in a bizarre grimace to protect their eyes from the bright sun. To be honest, it was a lazy day, so it didn't feel much like doing anything when he went outside. Kenta sat down on the landing that led inside the school. Reluctantly, he took out his lunch and began to eat, glancing only occasionally at the older students passing by.
No one could really tell what was on his mind right now, but it was laughably simple: the guy had never been in a relationship (and still is not, because the current relationship is not real), but even realizing that he was only playing the role of Akemi's boyfriend, Kenta had trouble telling anyone about it. It would seem that if you suddenly start dating the most popular girl in school, you just have to run around the whole school so everyone knows how cool you are.
- Kenta-kun, are you alone here? - I heard the voice of a film club girl passing by.
This girl's name was Kimiko Nakahara. She was already a long-time member of the film club, playing the role of an actress mostly, but very often she was an artist, and even, once, she was a screenwriter. She is a very active girl, a student of Class 1-1, and also just a good person. In high school midterms, Nakahara was often in the top 10 in her exams. Kimiko was rather short, only about 156 cm, but had a good waist. Kimiko had beautiful short blonde hair. To complete the picture, her eyes had a very interesting color: they were bright blue. So blue that in her gaze, it was as if you could see a clear, cloudless sky.
- Yeah, I just decided to get some fresh air.
- There you go. Aren't you supposed to be with Akemi for lunch since you're dating?
"Even she knows. Has that rumor already made its way around the school? What should I tell her?"
- Well... I don't want to bother her.
- Huh, Ieda-kun, you know I know you well enough to say that you're just afraid of your new relationship. Afraid that you and Akemi will become objects of ridicule. Aren't you?
- Yes, you're right.
- Tell me, why are you so insecure?
- Well... I don't remember if I told you, but in high school I liked a girl I really liked, but when I tried to tell her, she said she would never go out with me. I guess at that point I lost confidence in my charms...
- So you just don't think you're worthy of Akemi-san? I see. But I was wondering, what was your high school sweetheart's name?
- Her name was Ai Iwasaki.
Unexpectedly for Kenta and Nakahara, Akemi walked shyly from the side of the school doors. She hardly heard the conversation, but her face was quite puzzled.
- Kenta-kun, there you are.
- What is it, Akemi-san? You look worried.
- I'm fine, but, there's some girl sitting in our class right now. She wants to talk to you.
- Uh... It's probably Rin.
- No, I've been to your house, so I remember exactly what Rin-chan looks like. Anyway, hurry up!
Kenta walked to class at a brisk pace, and I should point out that Kenta's steps were very brisk, so his brisk step was enough to reach the classroom in less than a minute. Once inside, Kenta walked to the back of the crowd that surrounded the high school girl, who was facing the open window, as if she didn't pay any attention to the crowd of high school students around her. As she got closer, Kenta stood up, clenched his fist, and asked quickly but firmly:
- Were you the one looking for me? What happened?
That girl's sweet laugh rang out in response, and she slowly turned to Kenta, tying her pretty pinkish hair into twintails at her sides.
- It's been a long time, Kenta-kun. It's so good to see you!
- Iw... Iwasaki-san?!