AN: Hey again everyone! Sorry for the longer wait on this chapter, life gets hectic as I'm sure you all know. This chapter is a little bit shorter than the other ones, but I got plans for a longer chapter for the next one. So hopefully this will tide you guys over until then! Thank you for all the kind words and support! Now on with the fic!
Naoto walked out the front door of his house and let out a small sigh, still upset he'd had to get out of his warm bed. However, as he began walking towards school, he couldn't help but get excited. He'd get to see Hayase at least. As Naoto walked, he once again found himself daydreaming of his Kohai. This time however, he was keeping himself focused enough to pay attention to his surroundings, he wasn't going to let Hayase get the jump on him so easily again.
As Naoto approached the intersection where his and Hayase's route to school aligned. Naoto eagerly looked around trying to see if he'd catch Hayase sitting stealthily somewhere but to his surprise, the girl was nowhere to be seen. "That's odd." Naoto said quietly to himself. "Hayase usually beats me here."
It was possible that Hayase had walked straight to school, but Naoto found that unlikely, the girl hadn't passed up a chance to do some teasing before school in months. Naoto doubted that she had changed her mind on the notion so suddenly.
Naoto frowned and disappointedly began walking towards the school. After a few steps he heard a voice coming from the Nagatoro's route. Naoto recognized the voice as the boy that had shown Hayase his music at the family restaurant. Naoto, wanting to avoid any interaction with that particular individual, ducked into cover to hide as they approached.
From his hiding spot Naoto could roughly see down Hayase's route. As Naoto waited, the boy's voice grew louder as he approached, Naoto then realized the music boy was talking to someone, it was Hayase.
Naoto watched from his hiding spot as the boy talked and walked with Hayase, a confused look on Naoto's face. They were walking very close to each other. Naoto realized that the music boy's arm was around Hayase's shoulder. As Naoto watched them approach. Naoto began to fear the worst, was this her real boyfriend? Was this last week of confessions and flirting nothing but a joke? Hell, this last year? All some elaborate way to toy with him? To hurt him? Then just as Naoto's inner monologue began to spiral, Naoto saw Hayase quickly remove the boy's arm from her shoulder, a seemingly irritated look on her face. Naoto realized maybe he hadn't gotten the full picture.
Naoto examined the situation more closely, looking at Hayase's expression. For once in his life, he was relieved to see the girl looking agitated. To someone who didn't know Hayase, they might not notice, but to Naoto's trained eye, the girl was very clearly not happy with the situation. Naoto breathed a sigh of relief but then, a pang of guilt hit him. Naoto felt disappointed in himself for so quickly thinking the worst of Hayase. Naoto likely would've continued feeling guilty if a new emotion hadn't replaced his guilt. The music boy walking with Hayase once again placed his arm around her shoulder, sparking anger in Naoto. Hayase herself looked exasperated from the move, firmly she removed his arm from her, and pushed him back lightly. Saying something Naoto couldn't quite hear.
"Aww C'mon, it'll be fun!" Said the music boy, looking undeterred by her actions.
"I'm really not interested." Said Hayase. Naoto could tell from her tone of voice that she was on the verge of snapping, Naoto himself gritting his teeth.
"Why not? A whole bunch of people are going! My buddy said even Sakura is going!" replied the music boy persistently.
As the two of them approached, walking past Naoto's hiding spot, Hayase let out an irritated sigh that went unnoticed by the music boy, and said, "Even if I wanted to go, I wouldn't go with you." They continued down towards the route to school, Hayase too irritated to notice she'd walked past where she usually meets Naoto.
The music boy, still seeming undeterred, continued his pestering, "Aww don't be like that! Who would you go with then!?" his tone of voice giving away his overconfidence. Naoto officially had enough, he stepped out from his hiding spot, behind the two of them now.
Hayase looked at the music boy, her expression only a few degrees off from her death glare. "Who do you think?! I'd go with-"
"Hayase!" Naoto called from behind, getting both her and the music boy's attention. Hayase turned, and quickly recognized Naoto, her expression turning to elation. "Senpai!"
Hayase ran to Naoto, opening her arms as she got close and hugged the boy tightly, Naoto doing the same as she approached. Naoto, still fueled by the confidence of his previous anger, leaned in and kissed Hayase lightly, causing Hayase's cheeks to turn a rosy red; she hadn't expected him to be so forward, but was more than okay with the action.
After the kiss, Naoto looked over at the music boy, who had a shocked look on his face. The music boy was shocked by how this loser nerdy kid was kissing the girl he was hitting on. Naoto then said, "Who's this?" doing his best to pretend he didn't know already.
Hayase didn't take her eyes off of Naoto, and without missing a beat she said, "He knows Sakura or something I don't know.". The music boy flinched, he finally realized Hayase didn't care for him much.
Naoto nodded, and said, "Oh, that's cool I guess." After a second, Naoto then followed up with, "Is he going to walk with us to school or…?"
Hayase quickly answered the question, still looking at her Senpai gleefully. "Nah, he was just leaving-" she then turned a little and looked at the music boy, her face shifting fully to her death glare, "Right?" Her voice was full with intimidation.
The music boy nodded quickly, and said, "Y-Yeah! I just remembered that I need to get to school a little early anyways!" and quickly ran off, leaving the couple alone together.
Naoto smirked as the music boy ran off, pleased with the successful driving off of the other boy. Naoto looked at Hayase, and noticed the girl was still beaming at him, Naoto nervously smiled and said, "What?"
Hayase hugged Naoto again, still looking him in the eyes and said, "You saved me Senpai~!"
Naoto blushed brightly at her comment and said, "I-I don't know about that, I'm sure you could've taken him."
Hayase rolled her eyes at Naoto and said, "You know what I mean, Senpai!"
Naoto, grinned a little, said, "Yeah, I know." pausing for a second he then said, "I was just returning the favor."
Hayase blushed and then with a grin said, "Which one Senpai~? I think you owe me a few."
Naoto scratched his head, and said, "Y-Yeah you're probably right."
Hayase giggled and said, "Thought so!" Hayase grabbed Naoto's arm and hugged it, she then interweaved her fingers with his own. "C'mon we're going to be late!" said Hayase.
Naoto nodded and let his Kohai pull him in the direction of the school.
As the couple walked, Naoto felt a combination of emotions. He was relieved that his doubt of Hayase had been so quickly disproven, but he also felt a return of the guilt he'd had. He'd so quickly assumed the worst of the girl, that she'd been trying to hurt him. Naoto's expression began to slowly match the guilt he felt, something that didn't go unnoticed by Hayase.
"Senpai? What's wrong?" Hayase asked, concerned with his seemingly sudden change in emotion.
Naoto internally cursed himself for being so blatant with his expressions, and did his best to say, "N-Nothing!" convincingly. Hayase of course saw through his attempt.
Hayase stopped walking, holding Naoto still as well, and said, "Senpai, I've known you long enough to know when you're upset. Seriously, what's wrong?" Hayase looked him in the eyes, piercing him with her seemingly all knowing gaze. Naoto looked her in the eyes, and cracked. "I… I'm sorry." He said.
Hayase furrowed her brow, confused by his apology, "For what Senpai? What's there to apologize for?"
Naoto, struggling to say what he meant, started slowly, "I… I saw you walking with that guy… before I said something."
Hayase was still confused, "Okay? What's that have to do with anything?" she asked.
Naoto looked down to his feet, unable to keep up the eye contact, and said, "I… I assumed the worst of you when I saw you with him."
Hayase's expression changed as she began to realize what he was saying, Naoto continued, "I thought you… I thought this… " Naoto gestured with the hand Hayase was still holding, "was all a way for you to tease me…"
Naoto remained silent after finishing his words, still looking at his feet, unable to look Hayase in the eyes. Naoto felt Hayase release her grip on him, he closed his eyes as his heart sank. Naoto was convinced she'd be angry with him. Naoto waited for a second, two seconds, three seconds, and there was nothing. Just as confusion began to grow in his mind, Naoto felt Hayase's hand on his cheek, lightly lifting his gaze.
"Naoto, look at me.", said Hayase, her voice firm. Heeding her request, Naoto opened his eyes and saw Hayase standing in front of him. Her expression looked like a mix between sadness and anger. Hayase still held his face in a way that had him looking at her directly. Then with the same firmness in her voice as before, she said, "When I told you I loved you for the first time, what did I say before that?"
Naoto thought back to earlier that week, trying to remember what Hayase meant. Realization dawned on his face as he figured out what she was referring to. Hayase, seeing the realization on his face, continued, "I said you better not forget it."
Naoto quietly said, "I'm… I'm sorry." struggling to keep eye contact.
Hayase, still looking intently at the boy, said, "Don't apologize Senpai, I've already forgiven you."
Naoto felt a bit of relief with her words, but his guilt still remained, despite her words. Hayase, sensing that Naoto was still distraught, said, "But, since you seemingly didn't hear me fully the first time-" Hayase leaned in, and kissed the boy lightly on his lips, bringing a blush to the distraught boy's face. Hayase pulled away only the slightest amount, enough to continue speaking, and said, "I'll repeat myself."
Hayase, paused for a second, looking Naoto straight in the eyes, making sure he absorbed every word, "I love you Naoto, no matter how much I tease, or make fun of you, I love you."
Naoto couldn't help the butterflies that appeared in his stomach with Hayase's words, but still the guilt remained, he pulled back from Hayase, and said, "But… I assumed the worst of you so quickly…" Naoto said, still concerned.
Hayase answered quickly, a hint of irritation in her voice "So what? Quit being so hard on yourself! Everyone makes mistakes and this isn't even that big of a deal! You realized you were wrong and even apologized!"
Naoto remained silent for a few moments. Was she right? Was he just being too hard on himself? Naoto relooked Hayase in the eyes. Seeing the confidence of the girl, how determined she was to make him feel better, Naoto let out a sigh and said, "You're right. I just… you mean so much to me, that I overthink every little detail."
Naoto paused for a second, and then said, "I love you too, Hayase."
Hayase smiled, happy that her words had finally rang true with Naoto. "You better~." Hayase said, with her own butterflies appearing as she heard his reciprocation.
Hayase and Naoto sat there, holding each other, their arms having drifted. Hayase, grinning at her Senpai, teased a little and said, "Well that's the last time you get sappy Nagatoro without earning it!"
Naoto, a light blush still on his face, said, "Wh-What's that supposed to mean?"
Hayase giggled a little and said, "Next time I tell you I love you, you're going to have to earn it!"
Naoto smirked a little, intrigued with what Hayase could be meaning and asked, "O-Okay? How do I earn it then?"
Hayase separated from the embrace and grabbed back onto Naoto's arm and hand as she had before, and said, "You'll just have to wait and see Senpai~."
Naoto opened his mouth to question Hayase further but was interrupted by the girl, "No more questions! We're going to be late because of you Senpai! C'mon already!" Hayase said, and she began pulling him towards the school again.
And that's Chapter 13! I was trying to go for a little more emotionally distraught Naoto this chapter, hopefully it didn't come across as too jarring. I hope you guys all enjoy and I'll hopefully see you all for chapter 14!