Chapter 26: Weekend, just the two of us on a date?!

Time flew by, and it was Friday again. With the welcome party earlier this week, and my ongoing club dilemma, the days had passed in a blur. I tied my shoes and headed out.

“I’m leaving!”

And… somehow, walking to school with Aya had become a routine. It was a way to avoid the unwanted attention – the confessions at the school gates, the whispers and stares.

Aya: Ready to go?
Rina: Yeah!

Thanks to LINE, we could coordinate our departure times and meet halfway.

It was strange, though. Many students at Takamari Academy commuted by car, but Aya and Mizuki insisted on walking. Their families were among the most prestigious, yet…

‘Are they surprisingly… down-to-earth?’

But walking with them dispelled that notion. Aya’s kindness, Mizuki’s cheerful energy… their family backgrounds didn’t seem to affect our interactions.

“What are you doing this weekend?” Aya asked quietly as we walked.

I thought for a moment, then tilted my head, tapping my finger against my lips. “This weekend…? Nothing much planned.”

Aya smiled, her eyes meeting mine. “Since we have festival preparations and student council work, should we meet up this weekend?”

“Sure!” I replied casually. Was it like this in the novel?

We met Mizuki at our usual halfway point, arrived at school, and the Friday classes passed uneventfully.

****

And then… the weekend.

I arrived at the meeting spot, Shirasaki Street. It was a shopping district a bit far from Takamari Academy, but I’d heard it was popular among the students. The protagonist in the novel had frequented this area as well.

I was wearing the matching outfit Aya and I had bought at the department store – the blouse and black skirt combination. I hadn’t planned on wearing it, but I couldn’t refuse when Aya had asked, “Would you wear the outfit I bought you?”

‘Mom asked why I was dressed so nicely…’ Looking at myself in the mirror, I felt a bit self-conscious. But it was a planned outing, so Aya and Mizuki would probably be dressed up too, right?

I adjusted my bag strap and sighed. Just then, I spotted a familiar silver-haired figure in the distance. The calm gait, the serene expression…

‘Aya looks perfect, as always!’ I thought, then realized something was amiss.

‘Wait…’

The figure who should have been by Aya’s side… Mizuki… was nowhere to be seen.

“W-Wait, where’s Mizuki…?”

“Just the two of us?” Aya replied softly, tilting her head.

“Yes, just the two of us.”

I swallowed my surprise, a wave of panic washing over me. ‘Mizuki… where’s the protagonist?! This isn’t how it’s supposed to go!!’

But no matter how hard I looked, I couldn’t find Mizuki’s cheerful, energetic presence. Aya, her gentle smile unwavering, looked at me expectantly. I could only nod dumbly.

“Let’s go, Rina.”

“Y-Yeah… let’s go,” I mumbled, my mind reeling.

Normally, Mizuki would be setting the pace, her lively chatter easing the awkwardness. But just the two of us… where were we even going?

“So, where are we going today?” I asked, trying to sound casual.

Aya, her expression calm, replied, “We’ll discuss the festival and student council work. I’m also curious to hear your perspective as an outsider.”

That wasn’t her real reason. I knew it. I’d sensed it from the beginning. Aya’s attitude towards me had shifted. She was in full “dere” mode, somehow skipping the “tsun” phase entirely. This was the Aya who was so affectionate, it made the protagonist uncomfortable in the novel.

But knowing that didn’t change my response.

“Sounds good! It’ll be nice to have a relaxed discussion,” I replied, my heart pounding nervously.

I liked Aya. Perhaps too much. But our relationship…

I wasn’t a boy anymore, so we couldn’t be like a real couple.

‘So, as a friend, a harmless friend…’

I reminded myself of this boundary, this line I couldn’t cross. Aya was just being her usual kind self, I told myself. I had to believe that, or I might be the one to cross the line first. I was just a harmless friend.

“It’s almost lunchtime. Should we eat first?”

“Sure, where should we go?”

“How about a family restaurant?”

“Sounds good!”

We arrived at a family restaurant Aya had already made reservations for. While she’d phrased it as a suggestion, the fact that she’d reserved a private room showed her meticulous planning.

Aya always had a plan. It was that meticulous nature that would lead to her collapse during the festival preparations… but with me here, that wouldn’t happen.

“Rina, what are you in the mood for?” Aya asked, opening the menu.

I scanned the menu, checking the prices first. ‘Something affordable… knowing Aya, she’ll insist on paying, even if I offer…’

“Curry rice?” I chose a simple dish, one of the recommended items on the menu.

I looked up at Aya, her silver hair shimmering in the light. ‘Just the two of us…’ My heart pounded in my chest.

Aya’s soft, luminous eyes met mine. “Curry rice? Is that your favorite?”

“Yeah…! It’s delicious.”

Aya nodded slightly, her gaze returning to the menu. “They have a good steak and lobster set here. Don’t you like meat?”

“Um… is it good? But it’s a bit expensive…” I chuckled awkwardly, fidgeting with my hair.

Aya looked at me, a faint smile playing on her lips. “It’s okay. Don’t worry about it.”

Her sudden tenderness made my face burn. Was this atmosphere… okay?

‘Am I the only one who’s flustered…? Aya seems normal. Is it just me?’

I picked up my water glass, then put it back down, my throat and heart pounding. If Aya noticed my flustered state… no, she must have noticed already.

“Rina.”

“Y-Yes…!” Her sudden voice made me jump.

“Are you feeling unwell?”

“N-No! I’m fine! Perfectly fine…!”

“I was so worried when you got hurt during P.E. class.”

“Ah, right… that.”

The memory made my ankle twinge, but I was fully recovered now. The healing abilities of a high school student were not to be underestimated.

“So, how do you like Takamari?”

“Takamari?”

“Yes.”

“It’s… good. It’s a great school.”

“Really? But isn’t it a bit… overwhelming?”

“Um… it was at first, but not so much now.”

“It’s definitely not an ordinary school.”

So Aya felt the same way. It was rare for someone to acknowledge their own school as extraordinary… Aya was different.

“How about the student council? You just joined, but with Fujimoto there, isn’t it a bit difficult?”

“W-What? No! It’s fine, because you’re there, Aya.”

“Really…? I’m not that amazing.”

“You are! You’re amazing, Aya!” I blurted out, my words firm and unwavering.

And her next question dealt a critical blow to my composure. If this were a manga, I would have been spurting blood from my nose.

“Then… what about… me?”

‘Uh… well…?’

Aya was… Aya was… um…

‘Rina, snap out of it! If you say something wrong here, it’s over!’

I waved my hands frantically. “A f-friend! A very close friend…!”

“Right? That’s good,” Aya replied, a strange mix of relief and… disappointment in her voice.

‘Why… why is that good?!’ I screamed internally.

We couldn’t cross that line. It was important for Aya, especially considering her family background.

So, girls and girls… couldn’t produce an heir.

‘If we’re going with the “we can adopt” argument from yuri manga… is that possible? No! Wait, my brain is overheating!’

My mind was a chaotic mess. Aya chuckled softly.

“Rina, you’re so cute.”

I blinked, dumbfounded. ‘…What did I do?!’

I looked at Aya cautiously. She was watching me, a warm smile on her face.

“Mmm…” I groaned softly.

Aya leaned closer, whispering, “I can see you trying to read my expressions, Rina.”

“W-What? No! I would never…!” I denied frantically.

But Aya just smiled mischievously. “But I don’t want to reveal my true feelings~”

‘This… is bad.’

I didn’t just know her expressions; I knew her inner thoughts from the novel, every scene of her interactions with the protagonist. And this playful Aya… it meant her affection level was already at an 8 out of 10.

Aya continued to smile at me, and I desperately repeated a mantra in my head.

‘It’s okay, Rina, you’re just a harmless friend. Nothing more…’

But my heart, betraying my efforts to remain calm, pounded in my chest. I grabbed my water glass and gulped it down, hoping to cool down.