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Friday soon rolled around. Classes had ended for the day, kicking off the undisputed best time for all students—the weekend.
Normally, students had two days of unrestrained free time to look forward to, but that wasn’t always necessarily the case. It depended heavily on one’s school or what kind of after-school club they belonged to. In fact, it wasn’t unheard of to have classes held on Saturday or some sort of club practice.
None of that applied to Asahi, however, which meant he was excited to enjoy the full weekend... or was he?
Asahi exhaled heavily.
“Damn, man, that’s a big sigh. Something bad happen?” Chiaki inquired.
“Something like that.”
“Is it about Asahi-mania?”
Asahi slumped on his desk upon hearing that, letting out another profound sigh. He couldn’t even bring himself to muster a response. The weekend was practically knocking on the door, but he was already incredibly exhausted. The reason behind his gloomy demeanor was clear—the frenzied surge of “Asahi-mania,” as had Chiaki put it, over the past few days.
I didn’t gain a ton of popularity out of the blue or anything, I just got caught up in Fuyuka’s.
“Hey, Asahi—what’s your relationship to Himuro, exactly?” Chiaki echoed his classmates in a high-pitched, feminine tone.
“Spare me your impressions.”
“Aight, how about we mix things up with the male version?”
“God, no. That’s even worse.”
The winter break had been the pivotal changing point in “The Ice Queen’s” disposition.
If, hypothetically, a student existed who was the only one she addressed on a first-name basis, then it stood to reason why he’d be put under scrutiny. The fact that she got along incredibly well with said hypothetical student and that she was the opposite sex only added fuel to the fire.
Then there was the incident with the seniors a few days ago. Asahi had been accosted not only by his classmates, but even by seniors he’d never even met before.
“You sure you’re fine with the answer you’ve been giving people? You sound like an NPC repeating the same line over and over.”
“Like I have any other choice. We happened to be neighbors and got to know each other. Nothing more, nothing less.”
“I mean, you are telling the truth... Just a heavily trimmed version of it,” Chiaki responded with a chuckle.
Asahi collapsed onto the desk again in an attempt to ignore it. People will get really suspicious if I refuse to talk at all. But then again, telling the truth is only gonna cause more rumors. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.
Realistically, all he could do was repeat the same dry response over and over again. He recalled that Fuyuka had told him—with a somewhat warped smile—that she’d been through much the same. He sighed heavily again.
“Does it really take that much out of you to talk about it?” Chiaki asked.
“The questions themselves are fine. It’s the looks they give me, man.”
“Ah, I feel you.”
“You do?”
“A bit, yeah. I get them from time to time myself.”
Although Chiaki’s remark was ambiguous, Asahi understood what he was hinting at. If Chiaki and Hinami’s reputation as “The Obnoxious Couple” was any indication, their flirting antics—which often disregarded any semblance of social convention—must’ve invited nasty glares from others. No doubt they were at the end of piercing stares that felt like they were getting stung by needles from behind.
“Himuro is pretty popular, dude. That goes without saying. Loads of guys are into her, so it’s a given that one or two of ’em have it out for you.”
“I don’t really get why they would.”
“It isn’t rocket science—you seem closer to her than anybody else. You guys are like... something between friends and a couple. Heh, maybe you two are dating already for all we know.”
“Like hell we are.”
“Yeah, I get it. You guys arefriends,” he retorted in a suggestive tone. Fortunately, he didn’t pursue the subject any further like he previously had during their shrine visit.
Asahi sighed again and sank hopelessly over his desk for a third time.
Chiaki—who genuinely empathized with his friend—stifled his patented smirk and patted Asahi’s shoulder. “It’s gonna take some time, but the rumors’ll blow over. We’ve just gotta wait.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” Asahi said.
He was certain that the day when he’d be released from the pit of intrusive questions and bitter jealousy was within reach. Fuyuka was gradually becoming more familiar with students, both in her own class and the rest of the school. The contacts list on her phone was ever-growing with new entries.
Soon, she’ll have lots of people around that she can confidently call her friends. It’s just a matter of when that’s actually gonna happen. And it’s only natural that she’ll form close ties with some of them, to the point that they’ll be on a first-name basis. I won’t be any different from them then... I just happened to know her earlier, is all.
There would undoubtedly come a day where “The Ice Queen” would simply be known as “Fuyuka Himuro”—a sociable, pleasant girl who always wore a beaming smile. By then, she would be completely thawed out.
“Asahi,” a voice called out.
Asahi turned his head toward the noise. Speaking of the devil, it was Fuyuka and Hinami.
They’re both in another class. I guess they just randomly saw me and Chiaki here? Asahi wondered to himself. “Hey, Fuyuka. Staying in school even after classes? That isn’t like you.”
“That’s true. Normally I’d go straight home, but I couldn’t today,” she explained.
She and Hinami took a seat in the chairs closeby.
“Had something to take care of?” Asahi asked.
“Aoba introduced me to some people from another class.”
“Did my Hina do that? Nice going. A little networking never hurt nobody,” Chiaki said.
“Yes. I was nervous, but it was still a fun time,” Fuyuka replied with a sincere smile. Still, a shadow of fatigue also hung over her.
“I’m gonna ask this just to make sure, but you haven’t forced her into this, right?” Asahi pressed the other girl.
“Of course not! I just know some guy who really wanted to speak with Fuyu-Fuyu, so I just asked her. She said it was okay!”
“Fine then,” Asahi said. Thought she was dragging Fuyuka around like she did when we were at the shrine. But hey, if Fuyuka was okay with it, then I won’t complain. Plus, it’s just like Chiaki says—it’s important to expand her social circle. “Who was it, by the way? Somebody I know?”
“It’s Ryouma Yamada. Y’know, the ace player of the soccer team,” Hinami replied.
“Of course it was him,” Asahi muttered. “How did you even get to know that guy? Isn’t he in a different class?”
“He’s a friend of a friend. You know how it is.”
“That’s my Hinalayan Yeti—an absolute beast at making friends!” Chiaki exclaimed with a smile.
I don’t get why Hinami’s all happy with being compared to some cryptid, but okay.
Some guys would have qualms about their girlfriend knowing so many people, much less being on such familiar terms with them, but those worries didn’t apply to “The Obnoxious Couple.” They were madly in love, after all.
The couple were soon engrossed in a world of their own; one where Asahi and Fuyuka weren’t allowed to step in. Asahi peeked at Fuyuka, intending to ask her a question. He encountered difficulties putting his request into words, however, Fuyuka made a proposal of her own.
“Do you want to walk home together, Asahi?”