A Supporting Character’s Love Story - Chapter 52

POV Shinji Makoto

I hurried and made my way to school. I was late again. It reminded me of the first day of the term, except this time I was actually cutting it close with the time. While walking my eyes went up to the sky. Unlike the past few weeks, it wasn’t filled with grey today. In fact, it was a nice shade of blue, the sort that you would see in movies. Summer was finally starting.

My heart was feeling lighter after I put down the guilt I had towards Shimabukuro. It was unfortunate, but if I was sent back in time I would probably not change anything.

By the time I reached school I was panting from half walking-half running. Luckily, I managed to make it to school before the gates were shut. Although I did get a glare from the PE teacher standing there.

The news that I was dating Nakano had already been disseminated among everybody in the last few days courtesy to yours truly, but it didn’t really attract much attention like the time with Shimabukuro. Maybe it was because a transfer student was just built different but I absolutely preferred this sort of treatment compared to being treated like a monkey in a zoo.

Just like any other day I trudged through classes before the lunch break arrived and I made my way to the cafeteria with Nishikawa. I was really curious about what happened between him and Hiwari san yesterday and just decided to directly ask.

“Say Nishikawa, did you grow closer to Hiwari san recently?”

As expected his face turned red before he replied in a small voice, “Why would you say that Makoto kun?”

“Oh, it’s just a feeling I got.”

What I was really curious was who was the one who initiated the event. But either way it was clear that something had happened.

In the cafeteria my eyes spotted Nakano sitting with her group and me and Nishikawa also made our way to that spot. Suzuki kun and Shimabukuro were also sitting with them. I could feel Shimabukuro’s eyes lock onto Nishikawa as we sat down. Hiwari san on the other hand didn’t even react much and continued on eating her food.

Was I wrong to assume they progressed after seeing yesterday’s scene?

However, just then I was given my answer.

“Nishikawa did you get wet yesterday?” Hiwari san suddenly asked.

“Ah. Yes. Thanks to you Hiwari.”

No honorifics. Damn, Nishikawa went straight from crawling to jumping.

Obviously, I wasn’t the only one to realize this. The person sitting opposite to me had frozen upon hearing this exchange.

“Ha chan, what happened to you yesterday?” Shimabukuro asked in a voice that couldn’t be ignored. She was using her trait much more smoothly than before.

“it w-” However, just as Nishikawa was about to reply he was interrupted by Hiwari san.

“Oh it was nothing, we just shared an umbrella to the station.”

Ah. The atmosphere had changed from a calm nothingness into a snake staring down at a tiger. But Shimabukuro didn’t retreat so easily.

But them reacting like this means they both know they are rivals. And even then they were sitting and having lunch together just now? A feeling of wow arose from the bottom of my heart.

“Isn’t it just because he forgot his umbrella?”

A bold assumption, but judging from Hiwari san’s expression it seems she hit the nail on the head.

Although there was a high-level confrontation going on, the others didn’t notice anything and continued eating and talking like nothing was happening. Even Nakano only glanced at them for a moment and didn’t do anything.

“How did you know that Kei chan?” Just then Nishikawa’s voice cut apart the air like a sword of light slashing away demonic miasma. Shimabukuro was forced to look at Nishikawa.

“I have known you from childhood Ha chan. How can I not know about your clumsy mistakes?”

A powerful sneak attack by Shimabukuro. Even Nishikawa was forced to retreat as he blushed. This made Shimabukuro smirk at Hiwari san. If it kept going like this, at this rate Hiwari san was going to lose.

Just as Shimabukuro opened her mouth to deliver the finishing blow she was interrupted by Nishikawa, “I have changed a lot from when I was small Kei chan.” He said with a pure look in his eyes.

Although I don’t know if what Nishikawa did was intentional, the effects of his words definitely are. Upon hearing what he said Shimabukuro’s mouth shut on its own as she reeled in shock. Even Hiwari san was speechless.

I coughed to make everyone wake up from their thoughts, the silence was getting a little heavy.

“I-I am going to the toilet.” Shimabukuro said as she quickly got up.

“Shimabukuro chan wait!” Hiwari san tried to stop her but she was too late, Shimabukuro was already gone.

She is definitely heartbroken.

.

.

.

“Why didn’t you stop them?” I asked Nakano as were walking home together.

“You mean during lunch?”

“Yes”

“I didn’t find a good opportunity. Also, I didn’t want to interfere.”

“haah.” A sigh escaped my lips.

That is a valid reason. She has no need to butt into other people’s relationships. Well, it was also the same reason I didn’t do anything. I didn’t want to take sides and cause fractures.

“But I was surprised by Nishikawa kun’s coldness.”

“I don’t think he realizes any of the people’s feelings. That is why to him what he said was perfectly reasonable. Just think about it. If your friend tells you they know you inside out will you not feel a little irritated and try to defend your actions?”

After a period of silence between us Nakano suddenly spoke up,

“Forget about other people’s problems. I realized something about us.”

“Oh. What is it?”

“We still call each other by our last names even though we are dating.”

Ah. She is right. She must have realized when Nishikawa and Hiwari san called each other without honorifics today.

“Then what do you want me to call you?”

“I feel like a nickname would be too much. How about my first name only?”

“Alright” I took a deep breath before slowly exhaling it. “Akari san?- chan?”

“No. Can’t do it.”

“What?”

“This feels too much like we are an innocent high school couple.” She said with a red face.

“But we are a high school couple.”

“No, that’s not it. Ok. How about this. Call me only Akari.”

But aren’t the hurdles higher this way? Although I wanted to ask what exactly did she mean I just complied with her interest instead.

“Akari.”

“…”

Her not responding even made me a little embarrassed.

“Mhmm. That’s better.” She said in a very small voice.

She looks so cute when she blushes like this. I wanted to push it further but stopped when I remembered her past actions. Anytime when I had intentionally teased her had not gone well for me. It always ended in the use of violence against me. In the end I tried a more natural approach to make her more embarrassed.

“Ok. Your turn now.”

She looked into my eyes as she said it.

“Shinji”

“…”

I didn’t even realize but my face had gone red all the way up to my ears. All my life the only ones who called me by my given name was my family, so even though I was prepared to hear it my heartbeat still accelerated.

“Say something.”

“What should I say? That it’s embarrassing when you suddenly say something like this?”

“…”

It took us a few minutes of walking in silence before we were able to calm our rapid heartbeats but the silence was still there.

“Na- I mean Akari, let’s go get ice cream.” I said pointing to small shop. She only nodded and followed.

.

.

.

“How is yours?” Akari asked as we were sitting at a bench at a little bit of distance from the ice cream shop.

“It’s good.”

“oh.”

When she heard my response her eyes suddenly dimmed as she turned back to her ice cream. This made me really confused as I thought of the reasons why she would show such reaction.

“Could it be you want to taste it?” I asked her as soon as it struck me, but I was instantly rejected.

“No.”

“Then wh-”

“I want you to feed me.”

My question was answered even before I asked it.

“Oh.” I didn’t react for a second as I tried to process her words.

After saying that she was looking at me as if expecting me to do it and I didn’t have a reason to refuse it either.

“Here.”

She slowly lowered her head and licked the ice cream before taking a sizeable bite with her lips. As she was taking a bite out of it, all I could do was focus on her lips.

“That’s good. At least you are trying new things now.”

Only when she said that did my mind wake up and I averted my eyes from her face. Unfortunately, it seems Akari noticed my behaviour.

“Here your turn.” She said as she put her cone towards me.

The only thing I could do was eat it.

“Yours is better.” I said as I wiped the remnant from my lips, only then did I realize that she was also staring at my lips. It seems like she had done the same thing as me.

We finished the rest of the indirect kiss ice cream experience in silence.

After eating the last bit of the cone, I stood up and stretched out my hand to her,

“Lets go Akari.”

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