"Sh!" A small hand is put over my mouth and I am dragged behind a bush, just as I am about to call out to Sagara to ask where Misao is. What the f- I raise myself up and look at the person I was expecting. Oh. It's her.
"Misao, wha-"
"Sh! Seriously, Aoshi-sama!" she taps my shoulder. "Please be really quiet and watch." She says urgently. So I watch Sagara pace around the school gate, a new-looking red motorcycle parked nearby. Did he get a new bike?
"Is there something in particular I am supposed to be watching?" I whisper.
Misao gestures at Sagara. "This Rooster-head is going to ask Megumi-san out." She giggles quietly. "I tried to set them up during lunch, but it didn't work, so now he's going freestyle." She taps my shoulder excitedly. "If things don't go well, we jump out and distract her."
"Ah." I see. The Rooster will try to court the Fox. Sounds like some sort of fairy-tale that doesn't end well.
"She's here!" Misao whisper-squeals, pulling the sleeve of my school blazer.
And indeed, Takani Megumi approaches Sagara. "You said there was something you wanted to talk about." She says. With a smirk she crosses her arms. "Are you failing in Science again and want me to tutor you?"
Sagara awkwardly scratches the back of his neck, unable to meet her eyes. "Uh… Yeah I am but… No, I uh…" he mutters, cheeks a bit pinker than usual. "The bike…"
Takani looks over his shoulder. "Is that a new bike?" she looks at him in surprise. "How d'you manage to get that, Rooster-head?"
Seeming to get his composure back, Sagara grins. "I'm just that amazing, Vixen."
Rolling her eyes, Takani looks at the bike a little closer. "What, is this a step down from the Maserati you wanted? Are you going to try to pick up girls with your nice new motorcycle?" she flicks her hair over her shoulder. "Whatever. I'll see you around, Rooster."
"No." says Sagara firmly. "You can't pick up girls on a motorcycle, Vixen, are you kidding me?" He holds out a helmet to her. "A-a motorcycle… You can only fit one girl on the back of it."
"Eh?" Takani looks at him.
Sagara brushes his hair back, flustered again. "What I'm sayin' is, there's only one girl who I want on my bike, get it?"
"W-what are you even-"
"And here I was, tryin' to be all smooth and shit…" As Takani stares at him, he groans in frustration. Then he shakes the helmet he's holding out to her. With his face redder than his headband, he looks her in the eyes. "Basically, I like ya a lot, Takani Megumi. Wanna go for a ride?"
Not meeting his eyes, her cheeks also red, Takani takes the helmet. "I-I guess that'd be okay…" she says.
As they drive off, beside me Misao cheers silently. Finally. God those two were clueless. Misao stands up, brushing leaves off her skirt and I stand also. "The hill." I say. "It's the twenty-fifth day. Let's go."
Misao looks at me, blushing a little. "E-eh!? You're keeping track?"
I look away. "…Yeah. Just in case… You forgot or something." Then I look back at her. "Coming from someone who bases her study schedule around her favorite TV shows… Me keeping track of such a thing is perfectly normal."
She laughs. "Ouch! No mercy, huh, Aoshi-sama?"
"Just stating the facts. You have your priorities sorted."
We walk up the hill chatting idly, when someone – or rather two someones catch up to us. Himura and Kamiya jog until they reach us, on the hill. Misao looks at the two of them. "Don't you two have kendo club?"
Kamiya rolls her eyes. "They cancelled it because of exams coming up."
Himura looks sheepish. "They expect us to go and study like good students, indeed they do."
The four of us continue walking. I admit, I am a bit annoyed, but the company does not seem so bad after a while. "So, how long have you been doing this, Misao-chan?" asks Kamiya.
"Uh... Twenty-something… Twenty uh…" she looks at her phone and before she can open her calendar, I answer.
"Twenty-five days."
Himura looks at me. "Oro!" he exclaims. "Have you been going up here with Misao-dono for that long?" Kamiya looks at me, mirroring his facial expression. Misao looks away – and I think she's blushing.
"Yes." I answer. Now please don't ask any more questions.
Kamiya smirks at me. "Oh really?" she trills. I blankly stare at her – trying not to glare, but still be intimidating enough for her to stop talking. It works on Sagara and Himura. But apparently that doesn't work on Kamiya. "Aoshi-san! Are you just going up to the hill because you have some love you want reciprocated as well? You're just using Misao-chan as an excuse, aren't you?"
Himura raises his hands, ever the peacemaker. "Now, now, Kaoru-dono. Aoshi doesn't seem like the kind of person who would have unrequited love, indeed he doesn't. Girls are practically throwing themselves at him! Indeed, the other day, he opened his shoe locker and a pile of love letters fell out! He's had so many confessions this month, Sano and I are no longer keeping track."
Himura, you're not helping. Misao looks at me. "Seriously?" she asks. She looks a bit offended.
I stare at both Kamiya and Himura, willing them to please shut up. "He's exaggerating. Kamiya is just wrong."
"But surely, if Kenshin's right, you have a girlfriend?" Kamiya keeps talking and I am tempted to throw something at her.
"Oro!" Himura exclaims. "You never told this one!"
Misao stares at me. "Is this true, Aoshi-sama?" she has that dangerous facial expression as if she's going to stab someone while laughing. Hopefully not me.
"I don't have one." I say. "Don't just assume things." Is it just my imagination, or does Misao look relieved? "Now hurry up." I look at the two cling-ons. I turn to Misao. "We're going to miss the sunset."
