โๅฐ Aoi? Is something the matter? Do you want to come in and sit for a bit?โ
The first to regain her composure was Jingลซ Amane, who immediately responded and gestured for her to come in.
Hasegawa Aoi took a few steps back, but her eyes remained fixed on Suzuki Yลซ.
โNoโฆ It’s fine, really.โ
She stammered out her words, but Jingลซ Amane still stood up, smiling as she walked over, about to pull her inside.
โSorry for bothering you!โ
With a loud โbang,โ the door was slammed shut, followed by the hurried sound of running footsteps.
Suzuki Yลซ was still a bit bewildered, but after a moment he finally realized what had happened.
He looked at the girl beside him, eyes wide, and asked in disbelief:
โWas her coming here also part of your plan?โ
โIf I said it wasnโt, would you believe me?โ
Jingลซ Amane smiled wryly, as if she too felt a bit helpless.
Seeing this, Suzuki Yลซ stood up, about to go after Hasegawa Aoi.
But just then, he was suddenly pulled back. He turned around to see Jingลซ Amane holding onto him.
โPresident Jingลซ, what are youโฆโ
โUntil this guidance is finished, youโre not going anywhere.โ Her tone was light and teasing.
โBut Hasegawa-senpai, sheโฆโ
โOther than being club friends, do you and she have any other special relationship?โ
Just as Suzuki Yลซ was about to argue, Jingลซ Amane cut him off.
โUhโฆโ Suzuki Yลซ was momentarily speechless.
โIf thereโs nothing especially important between you two, then why go to so much trouble? Suzuki-kun, you should knowโtrying to satisfy everyone is impossible, you know~โ
A heavenly smile suddenly spread across Jingลซ Amaneโs face, but she spoke with a devilish, infectious cadence.
โThisโฆโ Suzuki Yลซ suddenly felt his throat go dry.
โIn that case, Suzuki-kun, why donโt you fulfill my request first? After all, I am your employer. At the very least, you should finish my guidance before you leave.โ
Seeing her pull out the agreement again, Suzuki Yลซ knew he couldnโt escape.
He had no idea what Jingลซ Amane was plotting now, but he was certain it was nothing good.
But right now, it wasnโt the time to be thinking about that.
With a sigh, Suzuki Yลซ sat back down on the piano bench, restoring the distance between them to how it had been before.
โA wise choice, Suzuki-kun.โ She spoke softly, as if praising an obedient student.
โWell then, shall we continue? Your hand position for the C major scale was still off just now.โ
Her hand once again covered the back of his, her tone gentle as she began to explain.
Hasegawa Aoi almost fled back to the Music Clubโs activity roomโonly here did she feel safe.
The moment she saw that scene just now, her emotions were like riding a roller coaster: first shocked, then angry, then disappointed, and now, just plain sulking.
She didnโt even know why she was so angry, but just picturing Suzuki Yลซ and Jingลซ Amane sitting together made her feel annoyed.
โWas sheโฆteaching Yลซ-kun piano just then?โ
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.
If itโs about learning, she could teach him too!
Does Suzuki Yลซ not trust her?
That guy, heโs always humiliating herโso infuriating!
Originally, after seeing the Journalism Clubโs article today, she had planned to go to the Student Council to clear things up with Jingลซ Amane and clear Yลซ-kunโs name.
But the moment she entered, she witnessed something so stifling.
So the Journalism Clubโs article wasnโt wrong at all!
She thought to herself, finally drawing a firm conclusion, and mumbled:
โHe really isโฆsuch a jerk!โ
Thinking this, Hasegawa Aoi flopped down on the sofa, ready to continue gaming.
But she just couldnโt focus; the character she was controlling kept dying repeatedly.
As time passed, her emotions gradually calmed. The sulking faded, replaced by unwillingness, grievance, and even a bit of fear.
She found herself unable to make sense of her feelings. Just moments ago, she was so angry, yet now she desperately wanted to see Suzuki Yลซ.
In the end, no matter what Suzuki Yลซ did, it was his own choiceโit really didnโt have much to do with her. At most, they were just good friends in the same club.
Thinking that, Hasegawa Aoi felt even more conflicted.
Her mind drifted, recalling the times sheโd spent with Suzuki Yลซ lately.
For no reason at all, the thought of their mountain hike popped into her head.
If, in the future, she never saw Suzuki Yลซ again, what would happen?
She didnโt dare imagine.
Tossing the controller aside, she lay on the sofa, covering her eyes with her arm, and muttered:
โSeems likeโฆI really canโt bear to part with Yลซ-kunโฆโ
The moment that thought appeared, Hasegawa Aoi startled herself.
โCanโt bear to?โ
She shook her head hard, trying to shake out such a ridiculous idea.
Wasnโt it the handsome guys in her games she liked? Or the muscular hunks from those magazine covers? Who did Suzuki Yลซ think he was? Just a decent-looking, somewhat clever, infuriating, and always attracting girls โjerkโ of a junior!
Butโฆ
Thump, thump.
Her heart was pounding. Could it beโฆ?
โNo, no, no, impossible!โ
Hasegawa Aoi sprang up from the sofa, grabbed the controller, and tried to throw herself back into the game. But the blood-red โYOU DIEDโ on the screen was more glaring than ever.
โDamn it!โ
Irritated, she turned off the game, pacing restlessly around the activity room.
Finally, she slumped back onto the sofa with a sigh, her mind a jumble.
She had never been good at thinking about these things.
Right now, with Suzuki Yลซ still absent from the activity room, her thoughts began to drift elsewhere.
โCome to think of it, maybe I misunderstood Yลซ-kun. What if Jingลซ forced him to stay? Didnโt they have some kind of rental agreementโฆ?โ
At that thought, she paused, a new idea suddenly popping into her head:
โCould I make Yลซ-kun sign a contract like that with me, too?โ
Her heart beat faster and faster. Once that idea formed, she couldnโt let it go.
โBut how would I even bring it up?โ
With that thought, she sank back into frustration.
Besides, Shiina Chisa and Jingลซ Amane both come from such ridiculously wealthy families. Her family was rich too, but there was just no comparing to those two.
Based on Suzuki Yลซโs selection criteria, would she even qualify?
Just the thought of competing with those two made her lose confidence.
But she really did want Suzuki Yลซ to stay by her sideโฆ
With that in mind, she quickly cast aside her earlier timid thoughts, her eyes now brimming with determination like a warrior heading to battle:
โNo, no matter what, I absolutely canโt run away this time!โ
And just as she was silently making up her mind, the door to the activity room was pushed open.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.