After the unusual cafe meeting, we all went our separate ways. With all the noise and distractions gone, I can finally take my time to think and process everything that happened. Or at least, that's what I'd like to do. It just so happens that Asamura is headed in the same direction as me and took it upon herself to walk part of the way with me.
We're barely five minutes in and she's already talked about three different things. I don't think I can last much longer with this.
"So you see, Sugiyama-kun, making coffee is actually a deep and complex form of art!"
"Yeah, yeah, I get it. Now could you please stay quiet for a moment so I can think? I'm still rattled with what happened back there."
"What do you mean? What happened?"
"You're kidding, right? Didn't we just witness the exact same thing earlier? Is your attention span just so low that you couldn't even retain any short term memory?"
"Hey! That's so not nice to say! And I legit don't know what you're even talking about. So, how about laying some context first before you go running your mouth!"
"... I'm talking about Kurebayashi. The way she spoke earlier was kinda out of character for her."
"Ohhh… Which part?"
"When she asked about Suzuki's admirers and when she offered to help."
"Okay…? I don't get it. What was different about her?"
"You… really didn't notice anything?"
"No, she was her usual self. Why?"
"... Never mind. Maybe I was just imagining things."
"Imagining about Reina-chan? You sicko! Pervert! Creep!"
"Not that kind of imagination!"
"Oh! Speaking of imagination, apparently we still don't know what its main purpose is. Like, I know it's fun to do and stuff, but why did we evolve to even have an imagination? Then there's the fact that…"
There she goes again, rambling on about whatever random thing that pops into her mind. Still, the fact that she didn't notice anything odd about Kurebayashi completely negates my suspicion. Maybe I really was just looking too much into it.
We continued to walk through the busy streets of the commercial district until we finally reached the border of the residential block. Asamura starts to run ahead then stops to twirl around and face right back at me.
"I need to make a run for it or my mom will get mad at me for being late. See you tomorrow, Sugiyama-kun! And don't forget! 6:30 AM, okay?"
And with that, she speeds off until she's out of sight. It's funny when I think about it. Two high school students walking together in an empty street under the warm embrace of the setting sun; this seems like a very romantic scenario. But in reality, such situations only ever end in awkward silence or vague cliffhangers. And let's face it, as if a chump like me would ever get into a truly romantic situation. I neither want nor need it.
Though I'll admit, walking with her did make my hands sweat a bit.