At the school gym.
Kurou:
[I've never been good at volleyball to be honest.]
Yuzu:
[Well you're short so that's a given]
Kurou:
[True]
Yuzu:
[...dude, you know what I realized?]
Kurou:
[Hm?]
Yuzu:
[You usually deny any mean things I say to you but now it's the complete opposite. Like seriously, what happened to you?]
Kurou:
[... maturity, I guess]
Yuzu:
[Huh?What do you mean-]
As they were talking with each other, Kurou gazed at the players. He was astonished at how good Hana is with playing volleyball.
Yuzu:
[Hey! Are you listening!?]
Kurou:
[I didn't realize this before but isn't Akazawa san too good at this?]
Yuzu:
[Wait, you didn't know?]
Kurou:
[Know what?]
Yuzu:
[Akazawa san competed at the national level.]
Kurou:
[Huh, interesting...]
Yuzu:
[Wait, that's all?]
Kurou:
[Hm?]
Yuzu:
[I thought you'd be more "WOW! THAT'S IMPRESSIVE!]
Kurou:
[You mean being "annoying"? Do you want me to do it?]
Yuzu:
[Eh? You've changed man]
Suddenly, as the players finished their game. Hana approached Kurou.
Hana:
[Yukitou!]
Kurou:
[Hm? Ah, hello Akazawa san. You were impressive.]
Hana:
[T-thanks? Anyways, you've changed a lot. I mean you're still ugly but it's good. ]
Kurou:
[Thanks, you we're great too.]
Hana:
(Heh?)
[...Ena wants to speak to you after school.]
Kurou:
[Harumi san?...Why?]
Hana:
[Dunno, ask her yourself. See ya then]
Hana left as she waved her hand.
Kurou:
[Well that was... interesting. Huh? Yuzu?]
Yuzu came back while holding a gripper.
Yuzu:
[Hey, I was a bit curious. Your hand felt like stone this morning and it was a coincidence that I found this.]
Kurou held it as he gripped it close in an instant.
Kurou:
(Hoh? It has some resistance to it. I like it)
[This is nice]
Kurou then kept on playing the gripper as Yuzu was currently speechless at what he's seeing.
Kurou:
[By the way, what's the number (resistance in pounds) on this?]
Yuzu:
[250Ib (113 kg)...]
Kurou:
(Ah...)
[...dang, my hand feels numb]
Yuzu:
[Y-yeah, I guess with that much resistance. I can't even manage to close that thing]
Kurou:
[H-how did you get this?]
Yuzu:
[Gym storage room...I mean how can you even close that thing? ]
Kurou:
[...maybe you just got the wrong one]
Yuzu:
[Y-yeah...I guess so]
(no doubt that's a 250 Ib gripper since I literally just took it for a joke)
At that moment, Mikane approached them.
Yuzu:
[Ah, Mikane chan. How was the game?]
Mikane shrugged as she wipes her sweat.
Kurou:
[I guess that means it was challenging]
Mikane:
*nods then smiles*
Yuzu:
[You did an amazing job out there! Good job]
Mikane:
*Shooks her head*
Yuzu:
[Most of the people were looking at you directly. Specially the boys since you were really cute.]
Kurou:
[Huh!?]
Kurou looked at Yuzu menacingly.
Yuzu:
[I-it was a joke! Calm down bro]
Kurou:
[...is that so? Anyways]
Kurou looks at Mikane as he smiles.
Kurou:
[Good job]
Mikane blushes then she looks down.
Yuzu:
(Eh? Wait...)
Morning break.
Kurou was currently eating lunch at the school rooftop.
Kurou:
(It's nice to be popular huh. Yuzu went off to eat with some girls.)
Earlier...
Yuzu:
[I hate to do this but I've been called by fate...See ya]
Yuzu walks off with a smug on his face while looking at Kurou.
Present...
Kurou:
(I guess being a hot guy really does have a lot of benefits.)
Kurou looks at his surroundings and noticed how alone he was.
Kurou:
(Same as usual...)
???:
[Hey...uhm, are by any chance Yukitou kun?]
Kurou:
[Huh? Ah, y-yep. That's me...]
(Who the heck is this girl!?)
[What do you want?]
???:
[I uhm...I have something to tell you this afternoon...can we meet at the back of the building?]
Kurou:
(No way this is happening...)
[...sure]
???:
[Oh, I'm glad ...]
The girl walks off while hiding her face with her arms.
Kurou:
[...]
Morning break ended. Kurou went back to his classroom. He was a bit surprised to see a lot of students clinging beside Mikane's table.
???:
[Hey, what lotion do you use? Is it a brand?]
???:
[Also, your hair is really pretty. I wish mine is like that.]
Mikane was trying to write as fast as she can but fails as more questions kept coming.
Kurou:
(I'm really glad she's getting used to the crowd. I'd thought she'll be ignored again...)
Mikane noticed Kurou. After that, she suddenly stood up as she went behind him.
Kurou:
[What are you doing?]
Mikane:
[...]
Kurou:
(I guess she got overwhelmed by the crowd)
???:
[Y-yukitou-kun right? Uhm, what's your relationship with her?]
Kurou:
[I guess... we're friends.]
???:
[Ah, i see...]
(Friends? That's too close for just being a friend)
[Anyways, I guess we bothered her too much. We apologize]
Kurou:
[...]
Mikane:
"No, It's not like that... I just don't know what to do in that situation..."
Kurou:
[Well, she's a bit shy... Her piano skills are amazing though]
???:
[Wahh, is that so? Hey, can we hear you play? There's a piano in the music that's not being used.]
Kurou looked at Mikane as he nodded.
Mikane:
"Okay"
???:
[That's really awesome! By the way, my name is Akane Yumi. I really want to be friends with you]
Kurou:
(Huh... interesting)
Mikane:
"Me too..."
Mikane faced Akane as she slowly nodded.
After school. It was getting late. Kurou was currently waiting for that unknown person to come. Thus, she did.
???:
[*Gasp* *pant*... sorry, I made you wait]
Kurou:
[No, it's fine]
She held her chest as she inhaled and exhaled slowly.
???:
[I have something I want to ask]
Kurou:
[...sure, what is it?]
She looked at Kurou while trying to hide her embarrassment.
???:
[D...do...uhm...]
Kurou:
(This is taking too long)
[No]
???:
[...what?]
Kurou:
[It's what you wanted to ask right? No, actually Yuzu's not dating anyone at the moment.]
???:
[... really?]
Kurou:
[Yes, although he walks around with girls a lot. He's not currently dating anyone]
???:
[Is that so... I'm glad ... ]
The girl closed her eyes as she held her chest and smiled for a moment. She then looked at Kurou with a serious expression.
???:
[You're weird you know?]
Kurou:
[What do you mean?]
???:
[I'd thought you'd misunderstand the situation but you actually understood it. ]
Kurou:
[...I mean, it's really unusual when you think about it. Me? Getting asked like that? Not in this lifetime. Also, I've been in this situation a couple of times.]
???:
[It's interesting though. Not a lot of guys can say something like that.]
Kurou:
(Well, there's a lot of things you can learn if you start despising yourself. It's unhealthy but beneficial.)
[Anyways, is that all? I still have something to do]
Ichiko:
[Ah, I'm sorry... by the way, my name is Ichiko, Ichiko Rin, if you're wondering.]
Kurou:
[Nice to meet you, Ichiko san. Now if you'll excuse me. I have to get going.]
Ichiko:
[O-oh, okay]
(...weird)
Kurou went back inside the school.
Kurou:
(I hope she's still there.)
As he opens the classroom door. He saw Mikane sleeping on her desk.
Kurou:
(She must've been tired...I guess they made her play without rest)
[Mikane? Come on, let's go]
Mikane slowly opens her eyes. She noticed Kurou in front of her. She then blushed so much that she hid her face.
"Welcome back"
Kurou:
[...pfft, haha]
"What's so funny?"
Kurou:
[Nothing, come on. Let's go home]
Meanwhile, at Ena's Classroom.
Ena:
[He's late. Is he not coming?]