"Has Kei-kun ever lost somebody before?"
As they were leaving the quiet lunch spot, Mai popped this question as Azusa was talking about Kei.
"Hmm? Not that I know of… Why do you ask?" Chihaya asked.
"Ah… nothing, nothing."
"Hmmmm~ Do you know something, Mai-chan?" Chihaya leaned in closer to examine Mai's face.
"Ah… umm… nothing! It was just… a thought! Yes, that's it!"
Mai proceeded to walk back towards her classroom. As she watched Mai walking away, Chihaya had a confused look on her face as she started to wonder what the question that Mai had asked actually meant. Before she could think any further, Azusa put her arms around her shoulder.
"No use wondering about things that you don't know, Chihaya. Let's go."
"Ah? Mmm…"
***
When the 3 girls entered the classroom, Kei was nowhere to be found. Mai remembered him mentioning a meeting with Yanagi-sensei and wondered what the meeting was about. Back at Yanagi-sensei's teacher's office, Kei had just entered wanting to discuss matters regarding the boys' basketball tournament that will be starting the day after tomorrow. When he entered the office however, he could overhear Yanagi-sensei having a conversation with another individual.
"Hmm, Amane-san is the hardest person you can ever try to convince… I'm surprised you're even considering him."
"Sensei, they do say that the hardest fish to catch are often the most delicious."
"… I don't think you have that analogy right…"
"In any case, please help us convince him, sensei."
"Hmmm… I can try, but ultimately the decision is up to him."
When the student and teacher finished the exchange, Kei finally decided to re-enter the office. When he heard the exchange and his name being mentioned, he quietly exited the office to wait for their exchange to finish. When he re-entered, the female student who was talking with Yanagi-sensei walked past him.
When they walked past each other, the girl flashed him a gentle smile before leaving the premises. At that distance, he couldn't help but catch a whiff of her faint lavender scented perfume. With just a glance, Kei instantly recognized who that girl was. Her long, silky red hair, slim figure, and fair skin makes her a source of idolisation from all the girls, and the dream of many boys. It was the student council's vice-president, Makinohara Kyouko, who is also the younger sister of his homeroom teacher, Makinohara Shiki-sensei.
"Good afternoon, sensei."
"Ah, Amane-kun. Please, come in."
"…"
"…"
When Kei walked up to Yanagi-sensei, it was as though he was waiting for something from the teacher. Yanagi-sensei on the other hand, was waiting on Kei to say something as they had originally intended for this meeting to involve discussing the basketball tournament.
"Haah… So, you heard."
"Yes, just a little. Though I'm not exactly sure of the whole picture though."
"That was the student council vice-president earlier. I'm sure you get it now, right?"
"I guess…"
"And?"
"I'm not going to occupy myself with other things for the time being."
"Good answer! Ha ha ha!"
The two of them went on to discuss the arrangements for the basketball tournament and other related matters such as transportations, emergency situations and such. When they were finally done, Kei finally returned to his class to his classroom in the midst of an ongoing class lecture. The rest of the day proceeded as normal with the rest of their classes. There was not going to be any more training until the competition starts to avoid the risk of any more injuries to the team.
When the final bell rang, Kei packed his things and half expected to bump into Mai waiting for him at the school gate to go home together. Before he could leave however, he watched as Chihaya and Azusa walked up to Mai.
"Mai-chan! Let's walk home together! We can have lunch on the way there too!"
"Eh? Umm… But our homes are in the opposite direction…"
"It's okay! We can eat at a restaurant near your home. It's fine right?"
"Ah… umm…"
The reason Mai was so hesitant in accepting their offer was because she was looking forward to walking home with Kei so she was quickly packing her things. When she glanced over at Kei's table, he was already long gone.
"Kei, you meanie…" Mai whispered under her breath.
In the end, Mai was dragged away by Chihaya and Azusa with many boys following suit. As they rushed out of the classroom, they did not catch a glance of Kei who was actually standing next to the boy's toilet at the end of the hallway. He was waiting for them to leave before he did. He thought that it would be a good thing that Mai have bonding sessions with Chihaya and Azusa so that she can get out of her shell even if it was just a little.
As the hallway and the atmosphere finally became peaceful, he started walking back towards his classroom to receive his things from his locker but not before a familiar voice interrupts him.
"Prioritizing others before your own as usual, Kei?" This feminine voice belonged to Shiki-sensei.
"Hmm? What are you doing here, sensei?"
"You know the boy's toilet is right beside the teacher's lounge, right? Anyways, why are you trying to hurt yourself so much for the sake of others?"
"I don't think I'm doing that though. Well, everyone is happy in the end, so what's wrong with that?"
"What's wrong is that 'everyone' doesn't include you, does it?"
"Well, as long as I'm content, then you can say I'm happy. Please excuse me, sensei."
Kei bowed before walking away towards the classroom. As she watched him walk away, she couldn't help but feel like she heard a whisper under his breath.
"I already gave up being happy long ago anyway…"
She thought she heard that but since she couldn't confirm it, she decided to just let it go. When Kei entered his classroom and left with his things, Shiki-sensei spoke up after he left.
"Well? Is that enough?"
"Yes nee-san. That was sufficient for me. Thank you."
"I hate it when you ask your older sister to do these things for you. Especially when it's my own student."
"Well, I owe you one, nee-san. I have finally found the perfect candidate."
Behind Shiki-sensei, stood her sister Kyouko.