“Don’t say gross stuff like that. He literally drags me along. Even after my elementary school graduation, I just wanted to go home and read—but he had me pulled into a helicopter out of nowhere…”
“To kill you?”
“Do I look dead? He basically kidnapped me to some villa and threw me a graduation party,” said Saito.
“What a way to show his love,” said Akane.
“I definitely didn’t feel any love there! It was a week straight of parties—no time to read at all…” Saito shuddered as the memories returned. Endless introductions to his grandfather’s acquaintances, subordinates, and their kids. Forced small talk. Wasted time.
But wait, there was one moment that stood out.
Saito suddenly recalled a delicate girl with long, flowing hair. From the instant he saw her, he was drawn in—he couldn’t take his eyes off her. Saito and the girl talked nonstop, completely absorbed in conversation. Her gestures, the way she stood, her scent, the way she looked when she blushed, the sound of her voice—everything about her made his heart race. He got the sense that the girl had liked him too. She’d smiled at him with an angelic expression.
Alas, because he had been so unusually swept up in the moment, Saito had forgotten to even ask her name. Where is she now? What is she doing? It was too faint to call it love—just a fleeting memory from his childhood.
“Hmm, I see… So, you don’t like your grandpa,” Akane recited as she scribbled notes. She was using the same pen Saito had mistaken for a weapon earlier that day. Her motive was unclear, but one thing was certain: Akane genuinely wanted to know more about him. And Saito…didn’t really mind that.
“Next question: How do you like your steak cooked?”
“Rare, I guess.”
“So, practically raw,” said Akane as she jotted down his answer.
“Common misconception,” Saito corrected. “Rare steak may be red, but it’s still cooked properly.”
“What about the sides? What do you like with it?”
“Garlic sauté, maybe? Not too crispy.”
“Barely cooked garlic…more raw food.”
“I keep telling you, none of this is actually raw!”
Maybe—just maybe—Akane is planning to make my favorite food?
Knowing her cooking skill, it would probably be a flawless, gourmet-level dish. Saito felt himself start to salivate in anticipation.
In the corner of the classroom, Akane reported her findings to Himari.
“I found out what kind of girl Saito likes.”
“Really? Tell me, tell me!” Himari leaned in excitedly.
“Apparently, Saito doesn’t like girls who are like guppies,” stated Akane.
“Guppies…? You mean the tropical fish?” Himari blinked in surprise.
“He said he just can’t see them as women.”
“But what kind of girl is ‘like a guppy,’ anyway?” Himari was puzzled.
“I looked it up. Guppies are known for being hardy and having a high reproductive rate.”
“So…I guess he’s not into the super sexy type?”
“Who knows…” said Akane, tilting her head.
The two of them puzzled over it together. Boys seemed so complicated to them.
“And apparently, his favorite food is raw meat,” added Akane.
“Raw meat?! That’s…unexpectedly wild,” gushed Himari.
“He likes raw garlic too.”
“Definitely wild. I thought he was more of a brainy type, but I guess he has that side to him too… I see,” Himari murmured, almost like she was savoring the words.
“You seem happy, even though it’s nothing like the image you had of him,” said Akane, a little surprised at her friend’s words.
“Well, I got to learn something about Saito-kun that I didn’t know before. It kind of makes me feel like I got a little closer to him, and that makes me happy!”
“I see…that’s how it is.” Honestly, seeing her bestie so happy made Akane happy too. It made Akane want to dig up even more dirt for her.
“Saito’s hobbies are reading and gaming. He even reads in bed before going to sleep,” blurted Akane.
“In bed? How do you know something that specific?” Himari tilted her head, suspicious.
“Oh—” Akane quickly clamped a hand over her mouth. That was a bad slip. She’d just implied that they slept in the same bed as husband and wife—something she definitely hadn’t meant to reveal.
“Um, you know, that’s…something I had overheard Saito saying to Shisei-san.”
For some reason, that scattered, stammering explanation seemed to somehow satisfy Himari. “I wonder what kind of games he likes?” inquired Himari.
“Horror games,” Akane replied flatly. “The kind where you shoot zombies and ghosts—messy, gory stuff. That’s all he ever plays! Yikes, his taste really is awful. The sound always leaks out of his headphones,” Akane spat out, clenching her fist.
“Wow, why are you so oddly passionate about this?”
“Ah, well, I just…I’m the type who can’t stand those kinds of games! I think he should be playing something more educational…something cute. That’s all. Seriously, that’s all,” said Akane.
“That’s all, huh?” said Himari, nodding gently.
Akane was panting heavily by this point. Giving information was fine and all, but talking about Saito was too risky for her. It felt like she could accidentally let something slip at any moment.
Himari gently took Akane’s hand. “Thank you, Akane! That was really helpful.”
“Was it, though?” Akane suddenly felt anxious, unsure whether she’d been of any real use.
“Yes! Next time I’ll try playing one of those zombie-shooting games at the arcade. That way, I’ll have something to talk to Saito-kun about,” said Himari.
“…You really shouldn’t play horror games. You’ll get cursed or something.”
“I won’t get cursed over something like that. Really, thanks!”
With a cheerful bounce in her step, Himari returned to her seat. Akane let out a sigh of relief and began preparing for the next class. She pulled out her textbook and notebook, neatly lined them up on her desk, and checked that her mechanical pencil was loaded with lead. She had thoroughly reviewed the material the night before, but she went over today’s lesson once again just to be sure. If she wanted to defeat a formidable opponent like Saito, there was no room for compromise in her studies.
“I’d like to make a deal with you.”
Akane heard a voice, and when she looked over, she found Shisei right in front of her. With both hands resting lightly on her desk, looking up at Akane with wide eyes, Shisei resembled a small animal like a rabbit—or a squirrel.
“A deal…? Like what?” asked Akane.
“I’ll give you information about Ani-kun. In exchange, I want a handmade lunch from you, Akane.” Shisei was drooling.
“Y-you weren’t listening to that earlier conversation, were you?”
Akane panicked. If Shisei told Saito that Himari was looking for information about him, it would be a disaster. Shisei tilted her head with a blank, innocent look. It seemed there was no need to worry—Shisei hadn’t caught on.
“I, Shise, know everything about Ani-kun,” she said matter-of-factly. “What he likes, what he dislikes, how he writes certain kanji, his weaknesses…even the taste of his sweat.”
“Wait, hold on. How do you know what his sweat tastes like?”
“I lick him a lot,” replied Shisei.
“A lot?!”
“It’s the perfect way to get salt. Very appetizing.” Shisei’s stomach let out an adorably high-pitched growl.
Might Shisei someday eat Saito alive? The horrifying thought flashed through Akane’s mind, making her shiver. She would very much prefer not to get involved with a real-life cannibalism incident up close.
“I don’t need any of Saito’s info, thank you very much,” Akane told Shisei.
“Ani-kun told me, ‘There is someone who’s been oddly curious about me lately…what do you think it means?’ Akane, he’s talking about you, correct?”
“Wh-why would you think I’m the one—?!” Akane sputtered, flustered.
“I can tell. I, Shise, and Ani-kun are connected on a deep level. Akane, are you interested in Ani-kun?”
“H-huh?! Of course not!” shot back Akane, feeling her cheeks grow hot.
“Ani-kun said that this person has also been stalking him,” uttered Shisei with a smug look.
“I’m not stalking anyone! I just…” It annoyed her to be misunderstood, but she couldn’t reveal the truth—not when she was doing all this for Himari.
“Akane…zero yen? Sold!” With a sharp, auctioneer-like motion, Shisei thrust out two fingers.
“I’m not for sale!”
“No need to be shy, Akane. Ani-kun’s a good guy; it’s natural to be curious.”
“I said I’m not interested in him!”
Just wait till I get home… Akane seethed with rage and cursed in silence.