The car kept moving forward,
When they arrived at the gate of Sakurasou, Akira Fujimiya gently let go of Yukinoshita Yukino's small hand.
"Have you… have you thought about it?" Yukino asked, her voice betraying the slightest trace of nervousness.
"I've thought of one percent. I'll think about the rest another day," Akira replied calmly.
Yukino froze, staring at him in disbelief. Then her cheeks flushed, and she glared at him in a mix of embarrassment and irritation.
Without another word, Akira opened the car door, stepped out, and gave her a little wave.
Yukino turned her head away, deliberately avoiding his gaze.
Akira stood there, watching the car drive off. Then he slipped his phone out of his pocket.
Inside the car,
Yukino couldn't resist turning her head. She caught a glimpse of Akira standing in front of the dormitory entrance. Something stirred inside her chest. Almost unconsciously, she pulled out her own phone and waited quietly.
A few minutes later, her phone buzzed with a new message.
When she saw it was from Akira, her eyes lit up instantly. She tapped it open.
"There are so many new story options. I want to write a love story, and the heroine is a girl like you—the most popular girl in school. So, can you let me have a love story with you and collect some material for it?"
The moment Yukino finished reading, her face turned crimson.
This guy…
….
At Sakurasou,
In front of his door, Akira unlocked the entrance just as another message came in. It was from Yukino.
"I'll give you a week. If you don't come up with a new story, I'll teach you Aikido. And I'll make sure you learn properly."
Akira chuckled as he read it.
Of course, both of them were joking.
He had already thought of a new story, but he wasn't in any rush to tell Yukino.
Titles floated in his head—Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Parasyte, Non Non Biyori.
It would take at least a year to complete these projects. A year later, he was certain he would hold shares in Flash Animation Production Company.
By then, he could hand over some good yet incomplete works to other teams for production. And for those stories with unsatisfying or absurd endings, perhaps someone else could rework them into something meaningful.
Thinking about the future, Akira walked toward his bedroom. It was time to draw the next chapter of Non Non Biyori.
...
Thursday,
Akira woke up early to find rain tapping against the window.
The world outside was gray, the downpour soft but steady.
He prepared a simple breakfast, ate quickly, then grabbed his umbrella and stepped outside.
The rain must have just begun; droplets fell harder as he walked, steadily painting the road in shimmering reflections.
When he arrived at school, the Yukinoshita family car wasn't in sight. Instead, Yukino herself stood at the gate, holding a pale umbrella.
Akira approached her step by step.
"Last night, when I got home, I met my sister," Yukino said softly.
"What did your sister say?"
"She said you helped me find friends, that you changed me, and that you made me…" Yukino hesitated, searching for words.
"....open up your inner walls a little?" Akira asked.
"…Yeah." Yukino's expression was complicated, her eyes glimmering faintly as she looked at him.
"It was true that I suggested Yui become your friend at first," Akira said, meeting her gaze without hesitation. "But after she got to know you… well, you don't need me to explain what she feels now."
"Akira-kun, I—" Yukino began.
"There's no need to say thank you," Akira interrupted gently. "I think gratitude should always be sincere."
At his words, Yukino's face reddened slightly. She lowered her head, pausing for a few seconds before glancing back at him.
"I… I admit that you are my friend," she whispered.
"Other than that?" Akira asked, clearly unsatisfied.
"If this animation succeeds, I'll take over the shares of Flash Animation and sell them all to you. Then I'll acquire new shares myself."
"You mean let me completely control Flash Animation?"
"Yes. I think you should."
"I really do need that," Akira admitted. "With my own company, I'll have more wealth… and I'll be closer to you."
Yukino's cheeks burned hotter, and she quickly turned her head away.
"…Please pay attention to Yuigahama-san," she muttered.
"Yui said that as long as you accept it, the three of us can be together." Akira's voice dropped, almost a whisper.
Yukino froze, eyes widening.
Then, her embarrassment flared into anger. She stomped firmly on Akira's foot and stormed toward the school.
Akira watched her retreating back.
He couldn't see her favorability bar like in a game, but he had the strong sense that it hadn't gone down.
After all, they had joked about this sort of thing before, and Yukino had even let him hold her hand. Surely, she must have thought he was teasing.
….
Inside,
Akira changed his shoes at the cabinet and headed to class.
Yuigahama Yui approached with a bright smile, holding a lunchbox.
"Sorry, Yui, our date this weekend might have to be canceled," Akira said.
"Eh?" Yui blinked, clearly startled.
Disappointment flickered across her face, but she forced a smile.
"There's no rush. Akira-kun's works are more important."
"I'm lying," Akira smirked. "Actually, I planned to go on a date with another girl."
"Which girl?" Yui asked, pouting.
"Let's talk about it later. I have too many girlfriends. I just want to find a little dummy to date," Akira teased, giving her a pointed look.
Yui's mouth opened slightly.
"If you admit you're a little fool, I'll go on a date with you," Akira said with a grin.
"You… you lied to me?" Yui finally realized.
"Judging from your expression, you've already decided on a date spot. I just wanted to see how you'd react." Akira reached out and gently took her hand.
"Akira-kun, that's too much," Yui said, pouting resentfully.
"You really are too stupid sometimes."
"I'm not stupid!" she protested.
"If you admit you're a little fool, I'll prepare a surprise for you."
"…I-Is there really a surprise?" Yui asked cautiously.
"Yes. But only if you admit it."
"…I-I'm a little fool," she whispered, so softly he almost didn't hear.
Akira looked around to make sure no one was watching. Then he bent down and pressed a light kiss against the back of her hand.
Yui's entire face flushed crimson. She turned her head away, heart thumping wildly, shyness and sweetness flooding her chest.
...
That morning's class was physical education,
But because of the rain, the lesson turned into a self-study period.
Even without a teacher present, the classroom was unusually quiet. Students read books, and when anyone spoke, their voices were hushed.
Akira sat at his desk, flipping through a reference book. Halfway through, he felt a shadow fall over him.
"Come with me,"
It was Hiratsuka Shizuka.
Puzzled, Akira put the book away and followed.
Outside the classroom, another figure waited—Hikigaya Hachiman.
Hikigaya Hachiman.
The so-called Great Sensei.
He was a protagonist unlike others, far from noble, with a cynical hostility toward reality itself.
When Akira had first watched the anime, he found Hachiman fascinating—so unusual for a male lead.
In fact, he even thought Hachiman and Totsuka Saika made a surprisingly fitting pair. He'd even read their married life in one of the Fanfic… though of course, it had been a serious story.
As Akira turned his head to look, Hachiman met his gaze. His eyes were exactly as described—flat, lifeless, like those of a dead fish.
"…We're here," Hiratsuka said as they arrived at the counseling room.
Akira glanced up.
This was the life guidance room, a place where teachers spoke with students about their problems. Hiratsuka Shizuka served as the life guidance counselor, and it was clearly within her duties to bring them here.
...
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