A Supporting Character’s Love Story - Chapter 50

POV Shinji Makoto

I stayed in the infirmary till the next break before I stopped pretending and made my way to the classroom.

Nakano’s and my eyes met for a brief moment before we looked away in case anybody figured out anything. However, as I was going to my seat I noticed Tsukumo san looking at Nakano with a gaze full of suspicion. Nakano however was facing a different direction and didn’t notice this.

Maybe she sensed me looking at me, but she turned towards me with the same look she was giving Nakano.

The first thought that ran through my head was if she knew what we had been doing while skipping classes. That thought only grew stronger when after staring at me second she smirked and winked as if to say she knew something. Could she really have somehow found out?

Once I thought about it I didn’t feel confident on whether we were really not seen. I mean, both of us completely forgot about the passing of time. And also, at that time my perception also switched off on it’s own. Someone could have easily opened the door slightly and peeked in at what we were doing.

So considering someone really saw us what should be my next move? First, I need to think about who could have been the one to have seen us. We can rule out any teachers and school staff being the one to have seen us. Because if it was one of them we would already be sitting in their office instead of the classroom.

Next, considering that somehow Tsukumo san knows what happened it must be one of the students. I doubt it was she herself who saw us, otherwise there would be no need to have suspicion. She would instead directly confront Nakano, which she had not done until now. With the same in mind, we can also remove any photo or video evidence as well.

Then it should be a student who knows both me and Nakano. Knows the relationship between us we had a week ago, and is close enough to Tsukumo san to tell her of this as well.

Even after narrowing it down to this much no particular person came to my mind. Could it be I was wrong?

Before I could come to the answer my thoughts were interrupted with the ringing of the school bell. Time was up and I couldn’t even figure out who it was.

I quickly got up and wanted to leave to avoid Tsukumo san but just as I was about to step out of the classroom I felt by bag being pulled from behind and suddenly I couldn’t move forward by even an inch.

Ah. This strength.

I slowly turned around only to see Nakano’s face which was visibly irritated.

“Say Makoto. Where are you going leaving me behind?”

This turned into a misunderstanding. But as I was thinking of what to do a brilliant inspiration struck my head.

Somebody had already seen us both together. Sooner or later people would no about it. Not like I was planning on hiding it anyways. But rather than having rumours pop up it would be better to tacitly display it myself.

“Oh. Let’s go home together Nakano.” I said with a natural smile as I slid my hand into hers and pulled her along side by side with me.

Nakano was stunned into silence with my sudden display of public affection and didn’t resist one bit. As we left the class I could feel a lot of eyes on my back.

.

.

.

“You could have told me before you did it.”

Me and Nakano were sitting in a Mcdonalds with a burger, some fries and a drink each on the tray in front of us. I already explained to her my reason for trying to escape the classroom as fast as I did.

“Sorry about that. But seeing you act so meek was cute in and of itself.” I said as I sipped on my 50-50 mix of ice and coke.

“Bah. You and your sweet tongue.”

“You want to check it it really is sweet.” I stretched my tongue out insinuating something. However, instead of the blush that I expected to see on her face I felt pain in my mouth. In that instant Nakano had grabbed my tongue holding it between her index, middle and thumb fingers and was pulling on it.

“Hmmph, hmmm.”

Unfortunately, instead of releasing it after hearing my unintelligible protests she continued tugging on it. I don’t know if you have ever had your tongues pulled but it hurts more than you’d think.

“Still want me to check if it is sweet?” She said with the smile of an angel. My mind was really in the gutter. Even now I was appreciating her beauty instead of trying to escape.

“Tholly” I said finally in a weak attempt of trying to escape her tongue hold. But surprisingly she released it the next moment.

“That was a heartfelt sorry unlike before. It wasn’t that hard was it? Also, I already know how your tongue tastes.”

That was an unexpected attack. Although I wasn’t red in the face I did slump my shoulders and looked down in embarrassment. Fortunately this situation didn’t persist for too long.

“So you really think we were seen?” Nakano asked in a more serious tone than before.

“I do.”

“Haah. I can’t even say that what you are saying is impossible.” Nakano said with a sigh.

“It’s like it’s a problem.”

The moment I said that Nakano’s looked at me weirdly,

“Makoto, umm… Exhibitionism is a bit…”

“No! I didn’t mean it like that.” I quickly denied whatever fantasies had started blooming in her head. “I meant to say that we were a couple anyways so it would feel like an overblown rumour more than something that could have actually happened.”

“When you say it like that it does make sense.” Nakano nodded as she took a bite from her burger. My eyes were drawn to her mouth on their own. Something was wrong with me today. I quickly shook off this feeling.

“I am going to the toilet for a moment.” I said as I escaped to the toilet to purify my mind.

.

When I returned Nakano was sitting in the same place with a phone in her hands.

“By the way how the way did you come to the conclusion that we were seen exactly?” Nakano asked as soon as I sat back down.

“Because of Tsukumo san.”

“She told you were seen?”

“She smirked at me as if she knew.”

What is she getting at? I wondered in my heart as I said that.

“Here, it would be easier to show you directly.” She said as she passed her phone to me.

Line? It was Nakano’s chat with Tsukumo san. The more I read it the redder my face got in embarrassment and the more Nakano struggled to hold back her laughter.

.

[Akari, did Makoto kun confess to you?]

[He did!]

[How did you know??]

[Hu hu hu. Who do you think I am?]

[Did Shimabukuro tell you?]

[Shimabukuro chan saw the confession first-hand?!]

[I’m jelly]

[Sure you are.]

[But no one told me]

[Figured it all on my own]

[But what else could you too have been

doing that made you two skip classes.]

[Hinata.]

[I am speechless]

[Speechless at my intelligence? wwwww]

[I will talk to you later though, still not at home.]

[Could it be you are with Makoto kun?]

[A date???]

[I guess you could call it one]

[I’m crying rn]

[How much has my Akari grown?]

[She used to say she will never

have a bf just 3 months back]

[srsly]

[But I won’t take up much of your precious

time, it might make Makoto kun jealous XD]

.

“Pfft. Kekw Hahaha.”

“…”

“Makoto you have to admit you overthink things sometimes. Even I almost believed you.”

What do I even say in this sort of situation? This was the most socially embarrassing mistake I had committed in a very very long time. But for some reason instead of trying to find a small hole to hide in like I normally would I also,

“Pfft. Alright but it’s not funny. Also, it’s not like you didn’t believe me either.”

It felt funny to me, not like a sweaty uncomfortable swamp land it always felt like.

“Just to let you know. I was only playing along with your logic.”

“Sure, sure. As if I’d believe that.”

“…

.

.

.

We spent quite some time bantering like that before finally leaving the Mcdonalds. It was nice to just get to laugh with somebody instead of always being on toes on when to behave like what and keeping track of the other person’s expression and mood.

This was the most genuine thoughtless conversation I had since middle school. I mean that is around the time when puberty hits and behaviour of your friends just change. All the clique forming and stuff starts at that time as well

As I made my way home with a pleasant cool breeze blowing from time to time I was reminded of the events that had occurred in the last two days. In the end the wish I had made at the start of the term had been satisfied. But this was only the beginning. I had read and watched way too many dramatic break ups. Cough cough. Domestic. Cough. Girlfriend. Cough.

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