Aoi clarified, "Yeah, I could see you running and dodging everyone like some speedster."
Shiriku, now thoroughly puzzled, typed back, "What?! Did you send someone to stalk me?"
Aoi read the message with a smirk and replied, "Let's just say I have binoculars."
Shiriku stopped running momentarily, muttering to himself, "A binocular?" He glanced around in every direction he could think of. Just then, his phone chimed with a new message that said, "Look at the direction where our school is and try looking at the highest building."
Frustrated, Shiriku gazed at the tallest building of their school, and a shiny object briefly caught his eye. Another message chimed in, reading, "See that? That's how I'm watching you. Now go! Get a coffee!"
With a dazed and irritated expression, Shiriku continued running, screaming in his inner thoughts, "Ahhhhhh, I shouldn't have agreed to this!"
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LOCATION: CAFE SHOP
"Sigh... the line is long, even if it's still 6:30 am," Shiriku muttered with an exhausted expression. He checked his phone, and Aoi had just sent him a text message that read, "Don't just stand there, Shiriku, talk to the barista!"
Shiriku replied, his face blank, "What? Why should I talk to the barista even if it's not my turn yet?"
Aoi immediately responded with, "Just go and say 'Ayaka Kazahana' and show her the card, do it!"
Grumbling to himself, Shiriku walked past the people already in line and approached the barista. "Um, hello there, miss. Ahhh... Ayaka Kazahana," he said, scratching his head and showing the card Aoi had given him.
The barista's face lit up, and she said, "Ahhh, an order from the prestigious Kazahana family member!" She smiled warmly and asked Shiriku how many coffees he was ordering.
Shiriku replied with a happy yet tired expression, "One, only one, haha." But just as he thought he had sorted out the order, his phone chimed with a message that read, "Oi, two coffee, not one."
Frustrated, Shiriku muttered, "Argh... Aoi." He sighed and asked the barista to change the order to two coffees instead of one.
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As Shiriku stepped out of the café, he couldn't shake the feeling of all eyes on him, their curious gazes lingering on his back. Memories of past uncomfortable experiences flooded his mind, weighing heavily on his shoulders. With a mix of sadness and frustration etched on his face, he muttered to himself, "Ermmm, those gazes... I hate those kinds of gazes. They bring back bad memories."
Determined to complete his task, Shiriku quickened his pace, his heart pounding with each step. His phone chimed with a message from Aoi, urging him to hurry. "Now come, she's patiently waiting," the message read. With a renewed sense of purpose, Shiriku pressed on, the precious coffee carefully cradled in his hands.
As he navigated the bustling streets, Shiriku couldn't help but feel wary of his speed, fearing he might accidentally spill the contents of the cups. The thought nagged at him, urging him to proceed with caution.
Suddenly, a sign caught his eye – "Renting Bicycles." Shiriku raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Huh, there's a bike rental here? Who knew?" he mused to himself. Without hesitation, he made his way to the shop, eager to expedite his journey.
Approaching the counter, Shiriku quickly paid the part-timer for a full day's rental, his movements efficient and purposeful. However, to his surprise, when he received the bicycle, he realized it was a tandem bike, equipped with two seats. Shiriku sighed inwardly, cursing his impulsive decision to rush into things.
"Sigh... I shouldn't have rushed inside and just picked the first bike the part-timer recommended," Shiriku muttered to himself, his frustration evident in his tone. "Even the price for renting a tandem bike is higher than a normal bike."
Despite his initial reservations, Shiriku knew he had no time to waste. With a resigned shake of his head, he hopped onto the tandem bike, his determination unwavering. Gripping the handlebars tightly, he set off into the bustling streets, his focus solely on reaching his destination.
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Shiriku maneuvered the tandem bike through the bustling streets with practiced ease, deftly dodging traffic and weaving through clusters of pedestrians. Despite its unconventional nature, Shiriku handled the bike with the finesse of a seasoned cyclist, utilizing both seats to his advantage to maintain balance and speed.
With each turn of the pedal, Shiriku was laser-focused on his mission – to deliver the coffee to Ayaka without any mishaps. The weight of the precious cargo in his hands served as a constant reminder of the importance of his task, driving him to navigate the busy streets with utmost care and precision.
As he approached the school gates, Shiriku's heart raced with anticipation. He was determined to complete his mission successfully, no matter the obstacles in his path. With a final burst of speed, he arrived at the school and skillfully parked the tandem bike at the designated racks.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Shiriku surveyed his surroundings, feeling a sense of accomplishment wash over him. "Well, let's go," he muttered to himself, steeling his resolve as he prepared to deliver the much-needed coffee to Ayaka. With determined steps, he made his way towards the school building, his mind focused on the task at hand.
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Time: 6:45 AM Location: School Campus
As Shiriku made his way towards the school campus, carefully balancing the coffee, he couldn't shake the feeling of being under scrutiny from every direction. The weight of the attention from his peers bore down on him, and he found himself grappling with self-doubt. "Ughhh, why did I agree to this? I'm not cut out for this kind of thing," he muttered under his breath, his voice tinged with frustration and anxiety.
Unbeknownst to Shiriku, a third-year student who happened to be a friend of his older brother Shiroe had caught sight of the spectacle. With a curious glance, Shiroe's friend nudged him and nodded in Shiriku's direction. "Hey Shiroe, isn't that your little brother over there?" he remarked, his tone laced with intrigue.
Shiroe, taken aback by the unexpected mention of his brother, turned to follow his friend's gaze. His eyes widened in surprise as he spotted Shiriku standing amidst the crowd, the center of attention. Noticing the coffee cup in Shiriku's hands, Shiroe's mind immediately pieced together the situation. "Riku?" he murmured, his voice reflecting a mix of confusion and concern.
He noticed the coffee in Shiriku's hands and realized that Ayaka Kazahana was waiting for him outside the school building.