In a hot sunday afternoon .
Carrying a heavy luggage, I walked back to my apartment after shopping .
Since it was Sunday, most of people on the streets were either housewife's, shopping, or families going out together . I gazed at that scenery as I waited for the red lights .
(maybe I brought too much...)
I sweated from my forehead as I carried the luggage with both of my hands . Today I was lured by the grandma of the shop who told me that she will discount 40% out of everything I buy, so I ended up buying much more than usual .
I just can't win against discounts .
Confirming that the light changed to green, I crossed the road while bitterly smiling, alone .
(I need to hurry)
I wanted to go back home quick and cool myself in my room with the air-conditioner .
Urged by that desire, I crossed the road with a half-run .
But I stopped my legs immediately after someone entered my vision .
The person who was walking behind me avoided me with a troubled expression, but I didn't even notice that, and remained standing dumbfounded while looking at that someone .
(Eh, N-No way...)
My heart started racing in a rapid speed after confirming who it was . Black hair, black eyes with glasses and a dark-natured expression .
When the person before me overlapped with the one in my memories, I couldn't control my breath .
That person who was crossing the same street to the opposite direction, was my classmate in middle school, Akuya .
(What is he doing here?...)
Of course, I didn't stop walking because I was yearning to meet him . It was the complete opposite of that .
The bitter memories of that time started refreshing itself inside my head .
Akuya Shinji .
This person was the main culprit behind my fear from men and the ringleader who destroyed my life .
Right after realizing that it was him, my body started shivering .
No, I don't want to go through all of that again!!
I screamed in my mind .
And almost as if my scream reached him, Akuya crossed the road without noticing me and walked away .
Waiting for him until he disappeared from my field of vision, I finally felt relieved .
At the same time, the light was about to change back to red, so I continued crossing the road in haste .
(I-It's probably not, him...)
It's definitely him .
I was confident that it was him . But not being able to accept that truth, I unconsciously forced myself to believe the opposite .
(Let's hurry back home)
I wanted to leave this place as fast as possible .
With a different motive this time, I hurried back home .
—————————————————————————————
The next day after the amusement park incident with the old man .
Lina, Kamaishi and I were eating lunch together again .
Summer was gradually approaching and the the weather was getting hot . I can't wait for the summer holidays already .
Thinking about summer holidays while sitting on the usual bench, I went to open my lunch box .
"Ah, that's right! I've got something for you two . "
Lina brought out a large box from her bag .
"What's that?"
Asking her about the box, Lina answered me with a confident expression .
"Try to not be surprised . I actually made cookies . "
Lina opened the box, making the large quantity of the tiny cookies inside become visible . This looks delicious .
I let out a sound of admiration after seeing what was inside, and asked .
"What's up with this?"
"I actually got into making pastry, so I brought some with me today . "
She then closed the box with the lid again .
"Let's eat this after lunch . Now we need to focus on our lunch boxes . "
Watching Placing the box back in her bag, I tried talking to Kamaishi about the cookies .
"Those cookies looked great, right, kamaishi-san?"
Despite talking to her, Kamaishi didn't reply .
Feeling that something was unusual, I turned to check on her .
She was gazing at the blue sky a n daze with her lunch box on top of her knees .
"Kamaishi-san?"
"... eh? A, uum, yes?
"What's wrong? You've been like that for the entire day . "
"Indeed, Saya-dono . You've been acting weird today . "
Lina agreed to my words .
Kamaishi seemed to be not with us today, it was like she was thinking about something else .
She flustered in class when the teacher found her gazing at the sky and even bumped against a wall when she was walking in the corridor . She was acting a lot more different than usual .
"Y-You think? I'm acting just as usual . "
"Is that so? Do you perhaps have some troubles going on?"
"We can help you out if you want . "
Seeming somehow troubled when both Lina and I pressed her to talk, Kamaishi suddenly stood up .
"Ah, I-I'm going to get some drinks . "
Kamaishi walked off as if she was running away from us .
There's definitely something odd going on .
It was weird from her to go get a drink despite having her water bottle along .
I pondered about a possible reason for her to act unusual as I looked at the water bottle she left behind .
"I wonder what's going with her . "
"Who knows . I'm not sure about the reason, but something is going on with her . "
Both me and Lina noticed Kamaishi's odd behavior, but we weren't intending on asking her any further .
Everyone got something they don't want other people to know about . I don't want her to hate me just because I pressed her too much to answer .
"Come to think of it, Kamiya Yato . there's something I want to ask you . "
Lina addressed me, seeming to have recalled something .
"What is it suddenly?"
"Well, I've curious about itf for a while now . Kamiya Yato... why are you keeping your skills a secret from Kamaishi?"
——————————————————————————————————
Bonus
Husband
"Welcome! We're doing a 40% discount today?"
"Good day, grandma . "
"Oh my, Sayaka-chan . "
"I'm here to get dinner's ingredients . "
"Is that so, today you're not with your husband?"
"Husband?! K-Kamiya-kun is not my husband!!"
"Oh, come on, just speak the truth . "
"I told you..."
"Ah, your husband is here!"
"Eh? W-Where?"
"Ahaha, I'm kidding!!"
"Please stop teasing me!!"
"But still, Sayaka-chan, you're together with a man now, your fan club isn't going to accept that easily . "
"Eh? Fan?"
"Ah, This is bad-..."