"But I have to hand it to you. Managing to snatch Kei from the other girls and dating him in just your second semester together, I have nothing but respects for you."
"… Umm… Saki-san? We are not dating."
"Hmmm~? Are you sureee~? The way that I see you two walk home together on an almost daily basis makes me wonder if you are really 'not dating'"
"We are not dating!"
As Mai spoke out loudly in embarrassment and shock at that suggestion by Chihaya, her face was fully flushed with red. She didn't know how to respond properly and maintain her composure at the same time. At the same time, Azusa couldn't help but glance back and forth between Kei and Mai wondering if what they were denying was really true.
"Hmmm~? So, what you're saying is… that you don't mind if… I hit on Kei-chin~?" Chihaya couldn't stop teasing Mai.
"O-o-of course I don't! F-flirt away!"
"You don't mind if I… kiss him?" Chihaya said as she leaned in closer into Mai's ear.
At this point, Mai didn't know how to react or respond anymore as she looked like a computer that had just been fried. Looking at this reaction from Mai, Chihaya couldn't help but tease her.
"Hahaha! I'm just kidding! Of course I won't steal Kei from you~ I wouldn't dream of stealing someone's beau from them." Chihaya said as she laughed.
"I said we are not dating yet!"
""Yet?"" Azusa and Chihaya said at the same time.
"Urk"
While all this was happening, Kei could only wonder what his purpose for being here was. 'What is my actual purpose for being here?' was the only question floating around his head. As Chihaya continued to tease Mai, Azusa slowly leaned in to Kei so she could speak quietly to him.
"So, are you two really dating?"
"Of course not. You know I don't start dating someone so easily."
"Heeh~ So there are some things about you that still don't change huh?"
"What do you mean?"
"Hmm? Nothing~."
The four of them, or rather three of them excluding Kei who was avoiding the conversation, chatted along as they ate their lunches. When they were finally finished, the school bell rang which signalled that there were only 10 minutes remaining on their lunch breaks. The lunch breaks at Tachibana High school were slightly more generous compared to other schools in which they allowed students a whole hour for their lunch break so they wouldn't feel overwhelmed or burnt out. In exchange however, their school period ends slightly later than other schools.
"Well, I better get going first. I have some things I wanted to discuss with Yanagi-sensei." Kei said as he stood up and left.
After he was gone, the girls also tidied their things and stood up, preparing to head back to their classrooms. As they were heading back, Chihaya continued their earlier conversation.
"Don't worry Mai-chan, I know you two aren't dating."
"A-ah… yes…"
"But I can tell from a glance that you do really like him."
"Eh?" Mai instinctively muttered as she was not prepared for that statement.
"Mouu~ I don't know if Kei-chin is just being mean or is just that much of an airhead."
"Eheheh… so I'm not the only one who thinks so huh…"
Mai started looking down as she walked thinking of how all her efforts have been fruitless so far. In truth, Mai had been trying very hard to get as close as she can to Kei so that he could notice her true feelings towards him. Whether it has actually worked or not remains to be seen. However, in Mai's eyes, her efforts thus far have been next to useless.
"Well, that's just how Kei is." Azusa finally spoke up.
"Eh?"
"He is the type of person who won't confess unless he knows everything about the person he's confessing to. He is who he is after all."
"…" Mai couldn't say or do anything but listen to Azusa attentively.
"He is not a person who loves easily because of his overly cautious nature."
Before Mai could ask any further, Azusa continued speaking.
"But… When he finally decides to care or give his love to someone, he will cherish and love that person with all his being. Which is why…"
"…"
"When he loses the things that he cherishes, he suffers more than the average person. What takes the place of the void that that was once the thing that he loved is probably resentment, regret, pain, and anger…"
When Azusa said this, she sounded sad and sentimental, something which Mai had managed to pick up on. From listening to Azusa, Mai was suddenly reminded of Kei's attitude and emotionless demeanour and thought back on his trip to the hospital just the other day. When she thought about all of this, she couldn't help but instinctively speak up.
"Umm… Fujinomiya-san? Saki-san?"
""Hmm?""
"Has Kei-kun… ever lost someone before?"