Chapter 6.5: Hayasaka Akane

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Hayasaka Akane was chatting with Sakai at a coffee shop. They were talking about casual things, like where to hang out during summer break.

“Akane, since when could you drink black coffee?”

“Well, I’m trying to get used to it. I’ve been practicing.”

“You only ever drank tea…… I wonder whose influence this is……”

Sakai raises an eyebrow. Akane adds two sugar sticks.

“By the way, I was shocked. Tachibana-san and Yanagi-kun are engaged?”

“Yeah. I was surprised, too, when I found out. It was arranged by their families.”

“What are you gonna do, Akane?”

“Me? I’ll keep going. I’m not giving up. They’re engaged, but we’re still in high school.”

“True, there’s no rush. You might have a chance. These days, family-arranged engagements don’t seem to be forced.”

Right, right, Hayasaka says with an unusually excited voice.

“Besides, if things work out with me and Yanagi-senpai, Kirishima-kun can be happy, too.”

“Oh, right, that glasses guy likes Tachibana-san, doesn’t he?”

“You knew, Aya-chan?”

“Yeah, it’s pretty obvious.”

“I see. Even you can tell how much Kirishima-kun likes Tachibana-san.”

“I’ve gotta try hard,” Hayasaka says.

“If I do well, Tachibana-san will be free, right? Then Kirishima-kun can date her. I wonder if he’ll be happy. Will he smile? For Kirishima-kun, I need to become an even better girl.”

“Uh, Akane?”

“What?”

“……Never mind.”

Sakai shakes her head.

“So, are you going to the Mystery Club’s summer camp?”

“Yup. You got invited, too, right, Aya-chan?”

“Maki told me to act in it.”

“Let’s go together! Filming a video sounds fun.”

“……Fine, I guess.”

I’m kinda worried, Sakai mutters.

“It’s surprising, though. Kirishima and Yanagi-kun being that close.”

“Right? There’s some pretty intense friendship between them.”

Akane happily recounts the story of Kirishima nearly drowning in the river.

“Kirishima-kun’s amazing, isn’t he? Kind, brave. He acts all intellectual but can be surprisingly clueless, which is kinda cute. And, like, Kirishima-kun is—”

“Akane.”

Sakai interrupts.

“……Who do you like, Akane?”

“Yanagi-senpai, obviously. You know that.”

“What do you like about Yanagi-kun again?”

“Uh, lots of things.”

It’s kinda hard to answer on the spot, Hayasaka says.

“Like how serious he is when he plays soccer, or how he’s casually kind. And everyone says he’s cool, right? I think so, too. You know, his eyes…… wait, huh?”

Hayasaka tilts her head.

“Um— what does Yanagi-senpai look like again? Haha, I’ve been a bit off lately. Anyway, I love Yanagi-senpai, and I’ve gotta keep trying……”