"I'm going to be late..."
Shimizu Ken was indeed late. The moment he got out of the taxi, he ran as fast as he could.
In Japan, taxis use a meter, and both the start price and the cost per distance are shockingly high. After only a short ride, Ken changed from "four-wheel drive" to "two-wheel drive" again, so to speak, and ran on his own legs.
When he reached the meeting spot, Amamiya Iori and Kondo Yuuichi were already on the other side of the sidewalk, talking with happy smiles.
"So, Iori, did you finish your homework?" Yuuichi asked.
"I finished it. Don't tell me you didn't do yours again?" she said.
"Uh... can I borrow it?"
"If you always ask others to do things for you, that won't do at all!"
"I know, but..."
Ken watched their interaction, noting Yuuichi's contentment just being near Iori. Yet, the sight stirred a pang of discomfort in Ken's chest.
At the same time, Ken could not help but remember their chat from last night...
His gaze lingered on Amamiya Iori without him realizing. She suddenly turned back, as if sensing his stare, her movements swift and almost uncanny.
"Ah, Shimizu-kun, you're finally here!" she called.
Iori waved her arms wide and ran toward Ken. From the moment she turned and met his eyes, she did not look away. She could watch him and still walk without falling, which was quite something, but if something dangerous happened, it would be too late.
"Face the front or you'll fall," Ken said.
"It's fine, I'm still looking at the ground too. And if I fall, you'll catch me before I hit the floor, Shimizu-kun," she said.
Well, that part was true...
Ken let out a troubled sigh. He had no idea what she was thinking. Their school was in the other direction, so if she ran to him now, she would just have to walk back again.
"Sorry, I'm late," he said.
Before Ken knew it, Iori had taken his hand, and they were walking toward Yuuichi together.
Yuuichi's expression darkened at the sight of their linked hands, and Ken felt a surge of conflicting emotions. The situation was undeniably awkward. He glanced at Iori beside him, but she would not let go. In fact, when Iori met Ken's eyes, her mood seemed to lift even more for some reason. Ken felt a strange unease, as if being drawn into a situation beyond his control. Was Iori's behavior intentional, or...
"Ken seems lost in thought. Let's go first, Iori," Yuuichi said.
"Ah! Yuuichi, wait! Hey! I said wait!"
Seeing Ken frozen there, Yuuichi grabbed Iori's hand and ran forward with her.
Left standing alone, Ken watched their retreating figures, his brow furrowed in confusion.
"Maybe I heard it wrong?"
Just now, the moment Yuuichi took Iori's hand and ran, Ken's "passive" sharp ears caught a tiny sound. He thought he heard Iori click her tongue—but it was so soft that it could have been his imagination.
At school, Amamiya Iori was the class idol. Because of her looks and her sweet nature, everyone called her a goddess, even "a once in three thousand years beauty." A girl like that would not click her tongue.
"It must be my mistake... Oh no, I really will be late."
Thinking it was only his imagination, Ken fixed his school bag and ran to catch up with the other two.
Notes:
• Amamiya Iori - JK heroine; targeted; her mother is the hostage. Long-haired and busty.
• Kondo Yuuichi - Original main protagonist; timid; Iori’s childhood friend; freezes despite push.