When I reunited with my arrogant childhood friend, she had become a talented and beautiful girl – Even though she has probably forgotten about me and I don’t want to be toyed with, for some reason she keeps getting involved with me!?

Let’s sort this out.

Shinjo Akane.

Without her involvement, enjoying my high school life to the fullest was my ideal.

However, reality was different.

For some reason, she got involved with me as soon as I transferred schools, gave me a tour of the school, and ended up walking home together.

Why did this happen? I arrived at a certain conclusion.

Akane Shinjo, as the vice president of the student council, was simply concerned about me, a transfer student.

If that’s the case, her getting so involved would only be this one time. As the days go by, she probably won’t bother me.

That’s right. That must be it!!

That’s what I thought.

“So, my sister, you know… Hey, are you even listening?”

Now it’s lunchtime. While everyone is eating lunch and chatting with their close friend groups, I was eating lunch with Akane, just the two of us.

Even though she was invited to eat with her classmates, she chose to eat with me.

This has been going on for about a week.

“I’m listening. What about your sister?”

I could feel envious, hostile, and murderous gazes from the boys in my class, and the girls in my class were saying things like, “Akane-chan was taken by Sato-kun, huh?”

Is she trying to isolate me from the boys in the class? If so, she’s quite a strategist.

I could flatly refuse, but that would make her cry and be a hassle. That’s when I would lose my place in the class.

“…By the way, you. Are you having that again today?”

Akane pointed to my lunch, a jelly drink and a nutritious meal, looking exasperated.

“It’s a jelly that can be charged in 10 seconds and a nutritious meal packed with 5 essential nutrients. Isn’t it healthy?”

“Well, that’s not the issue… What about a lunchbox?”

“It’s too much of a hassle to make.”

I can cook as well as anyone else. I can easily make a lunchbox, but… I just don’t have the motivation. I’d rather sleep than wake up to make a lunchbox. That’s how I think. That’s why I stock up on jelly and nutritious meals at home and bring them to school.

“Hmm… W-well, then. Should I make a lunchbox for you next time?”

“Huh, can you cook?”

“I-I can make a lunchbox… with no problem at all!!”

Could you say that without being flustered, please?

“Oh, really… ha.”

“I-I was laughed at through your nose…!!”

She puffed out her cheeks, looking frustrated as she watched me brush her off while casting a doubtful gaze.

“Grrr…!! I’ll definitely make you eat your words…!!”

“Just so you know, I’m a guy who evaluates things without any bias. If it’s bad, I won’t hesitate to criticize it mercilessly.”

“…………….”

Her face turned away as she wiped away her sweat.

“Anyway, more importantly!!”

I was surprised as Akane leaned in, getting closer to me. Her face was really close…

“Um, well…”

I didn’t know if it was embarrassment or nervousness, but her cheeks were slightly red and her eyes were wavering. It looked as if she was about to confess something.

Just as she averted her eyes several times, hesitated to make eye contact, and tried to say something,

“Akane-chan!! Someone from the student council is here!!”

One of the girls in the class called out to Akane.

“!! Okay!!”

She stood up as if suppressing what she wanted to say, stared at me, and left the classroom.

…What was she trying to say? Well, it doesn’t really matter.

Now that Akane has left her seat, I’m all alone.

…What should I do?

The next morning.

The morning school commute was one of the few peaceful times when Akane wouldn’t bother me.

However, what caught my eye was the sight of Akane, waiting for someone around a corner.

“…What is she doing? That girl.”

No matter how you look at it, her figure shaking her hips seems suspicious.

I wonder who she’s waiting for… It’s not me, is it?

Hoping that it’s not me, I approached her from behind.

Akane seemed too focused on staring around the corner to notice me.

“Itsuki is really late… It’s about time for him to show up…”

Itsuki is right here, you know.

I lightly tapped Akane, who was grumbling with a dissatisfied face, from behind.

“Shinjo, good morning.”

“Eh, eh, eh!? Wh-why!?”

Akane jumped up in surprise, yelling with a face like a pigeon that had been shot with a slingshot.

I’d like to ask her why, too.

As I silently stared at Akane, her eyes darted around, and she made suspicious movements.

You look like a stalker who’s just been caught in the act.

“It’s not Itsuki!! It, it’s just a coincidence!”

She’s resorting to force, insisting that it’s all just a coincidence.

“…Is it really a coincidence?”

“Of course it is!! Running into you was also a coincidence! Come on, let’s go!”

“…Alright, alright.”

Sighing, I walked with Akane onto the main street.

“Didn’t you usually take this main street when you were going to school?”

“I just happened to use a different route today.”

“Oh, I see! That makes sense!”

As usual, Akane strikes up a conversation, but she seems restless and unsettled. Her voice is somewhat tense, too.

Ah, this must be the attitude when you have something to say but can’t bring yourself to say it. She hasn’t changed in that regard.

She probably wants to talk about what she started to say during yesterday’s lunch break. As we get closer to the school, her expression becomes more and more anxious.

At this rate, she won’t be able to say anything.

Well, it’s probably just some troublesome matter anyway. I don’t really care, and it’s better if it ends without having to hear about it.

“By the way, didn’t you start to say something during yesterday’s lunch break?”

I’m not really concerned, but I guess it’s okay to listen.

As I say that, she looks at me happily, tugs at my sleeve, and speaks up.

“Um, I have a favor to ask…”