Chapter 2: Detective Akaza on the case
"Good morning, Chinatsu-chan!"
"Oh. Good morning, Akari-chan."
"Are you feeling alright? After what happened yesterday..."
"Oh, right. Speaking of that..."
Chinatsu's words were interrupted by the sight of Yui and Kyouko rounding the corner. She broke into a run, leaving a bewildered Akari behind.
"Yui-senpaiiii!" yelled Chinatsu as she glomped Yui. "Good morning!"
"Huh- what's this- why..." Yui stumbled upon her words. Kyouko didn't know whether to be amused or perplexed.
"...good morning, Chinatsu," Yui finally managed.
"Ehehe~ thanks," Chinatsu giggled. "And good morning to you too, Kyouko-senpai," she remarked with a smile.
"Good morning to you too. ", replied Kyouko. "Morning, Akari! Quit stalling and join us!" she waved.
"...oh! I'll be right there", said Akari as she hurried to catch the rest of the girls, exchanging the last few greetings. The group resumed their walk towards the school, chatting like nothing had ever been wrong.
After they had reached the school and split up to head towards the classrooms, Akari whispered to Chinatsu:
"What was that with Yui-chan there?"
"It's all thanks to your advice! You're right, I shouldn't give up. I just have to make Yui-senpai fall in love with me instead! It's no time to be sullen, it's time to go on the offensive!"
"I... see," replied Akari, taken aback a bit. It was nice to see Chinatsu happy again, but could things be so simple? Akari didn't think so. Yui had been on the receiving end of Chinatsu's advances for ages. She wouldn't suddenly be swayed. With yesterday's revelations, the situation would soon get awkward again.
The two girls entered their classroom, greeting Himawari and Sakurako. As Akari took her seat, she was deep in thought. The current situation wasn't healthy, and something had to be done. And the best way forward was figuring out who Yui's crush was. She wanted to help Chinatsu to get together with Yui, or get over her. She wanted to help Yui get together with her crush, if that was an option. She wanted to make sure everyone in the amusement club could be happy together.
The amusement club's lunch and afterschool sessions had proceeded as normal. Kyouko had to leave early to meet Ayano (apparently she was too bashful to pick Kyouko up in front of everyone, but somehow publicly inviting her for the date was fine), and the other three decided to leave a little early as well. Yui wanted to do some shopping, and took shortcut through the woods.
"Oh! Chinatsu-chan, I forgot something!" said Akari as the two first-years were walking through the school gates. "I'll head back, go ahead without me."
"Really? Akari-chan, you klutz! Now I ended up having to walk home alone!"
"Eheh, sorry, Chinatsu-chan."
Leaving Chinatsu behind stung a bit, but Akari had work to do. She headed back into the school grounds, but didn't go to the clubroom, or her own classroom. Instead, she climbed up to the student council.
*knock knock*
"Come in!"
"Sorry for the intrusion!" said Akari as she opened the door and peeked in.
"Akari-chan! Have you come to brighten our boring day?" said Sakurako, instantly perking up. "Council work is so dreadful!"
"Don't slack off now. Isn't this is a task you yourself want to get done?" Himawari scolded her.
"Actually, I'm here for Ikeda-senpai," said Akari. "Could we talk privately?"
"Huh, me?" said the second-year. "Actually, we're all kinda busy with this project, especially with Ayano gone..."
"And with Sakurako making stupid mistakes."
"Because Himawari keeps distracting me with nagging and boobs!"
"Say what?!"
"Okay, the president said it's okay, she'll help us," Chitose stated. When did the president say anything? Akari wondered.
Chitose left the arguing duo and the silent lack of presence behind, and stepped out into the hallway. Akari beckoned her to sit on the staircase, bathed in orange light by the setting sun.
"What is it, Akaza-san?"
"Umm, I have a rather embarrassing question for you, Ikeda-senpai."
Wait, is this...? "W-what is it?"
"You focused a lot on Sugiura-senpai and Kyouko-chan back in the day, and I was wondering..."
She really has gotten curious about this again? Chitose was starting to blush and sweat. "Umm, Akaza-san..."
"Do you know who Yui-chan has a crush on?" Akari blurted.
What? Chitose was blindsided by Akari's question. She had expected a completely different line of inquiry. "W-what makes you think I would know?"
"You care about this stuff, right? It's not just those two, you pay attention to any potential romance? So, when it comes to Yui, is there anyone in your class..." Akari was starting to blush.
Chitose got her bearings together. Akari was right, this was her element. And this wouldn't be so embarrassing to put into words. She removed her glasses, opened the eye of her heart, and started visualizing possible pairings.
"There certainly was some potential with her and Toshino-san..." Chitose remembered the Snow White play.
"Kyouko-chan seemed to think so too. But it's not her, nor Sugiura-senpai," Akari replied.
"Hmm. As for girls you don't know... I considered Satsuki-san at one point, but she seems destined for Senjou-san instead..." minor nosebleed. Akari provided a tissue.
"...Toudou-san seems like a good match on paper, but I can't feel any spark there... Tsukiyouji-san might like Funami-san, but I don't see Funami-san liking her back..."
Chitose put her glasses back on. "Sorry, Akaza-san, I don't have any concrete information."
"No need to apologize. Just crossing out possibilities helps. I wan't to figure out who Yui-chan's crush is, so I can help her, help all of us..."
"Nee-san? And Akaza-san?"
"Oh, Chizuru!" Chitose turned her attention to her younger twin sister, who had just rounded the corner. "What kept you at school so late?"
"I had some schoolwork to finish with Koyama-san and Dezaki-san, I was going home now. What are you two doing?"
"Oh, just discussing a certain issue... actually, aren't we done, Akaza-san? I really need to get back to work."
"...sure. Sorry for keeping you!"
"No problem, actually, good luck!" Chitose headed back to the student council room. "See you later tonight, Chizuru!" she said as she closed the door.
Akari and Chizuru were left behind.
"Are you also heading home, Akaza-san?"
"...yeah. Mind if I walk with you for a bit?"
"Not at all."
The younger Ikeda was more intimidating than her older sister. Akari found it easy to converse with Chitose, but Chizuru was harder to approach.
"Thanks for taking care of Nee-san," Chizuru suddenly remarked.
"...no, this time I was actually bothering her," Akari replied, a bit confused.
Chizuru didn't reply. She's such a composed person, Akari though.
"...anyways, can I ask you a question, Ikeda-senpai?"
"Go ahead."
"What do you think of Yui-chan?"
"Funami-san, you mean? She's nice. Smart. A reasonable person, unlike a certain someone".
"Ehehe... I think I know who you're talking about."
The two exited the school and exchanged brief goodbyes. Akari sat down by a tree in the schoolyard and closed her eyes.
Alright, let's take stock. Who is Yui-chan's crush? Ikeda-senpai pretty much ruled out all random classmates. So it's most likely someone I can name.
First, Ikeda-senpai herself. She's one of Yui's closest friends and classmates. She's probably a blind spot to herself, and didn't even consider the possibility of Yui-chan having a crush on her.
The other Ikeda-senpai, of course. As she said, they're both calm people. There's common ground.
Himawari-chan. She's also intelligent enough to match Yui-chan. And pretty enough for a crush based on that only.
Sakurako-chan. Opposites may attract. She's hyperactive and silly like Kyouko-chan, and Yui-chan certainly doesn't mind that.
Anyone else? Right, the student council president exists. Matsumoto Rise-senpai. Another calm and smart one. And she's definitely hard to approach, so maybe that's troubling Yui-chan.
Akari had a bit of a gut feeling, but couldn't place it. She took a deep breath and moved onto the final option.
And now for what Onee-chan said yesterday. What if it's me? What would I even do if I figured that out? If Yui-chan confessed to me, asked me out? Think of her best and date her? Think of Chinatsu's best and reject her? What's the right thing to do?
Akari tried thinking about the idea of dating Yui. What was dating like? Going to places and events together? Holding hands? Hugging and cuddling? K-k-kissing? Thinking about this was getting increasingly embarrassing. Could she imagine herself and Yui doing those things?
No, not really. Akari loved Yui, but not like that. She enjoyed spending time with her. She was comfortable being close to her, but couldn't find it exciting in a romantic way. When thinking of walking around holding hands, her mind naturally imagined Chinatsu's soft hand instead. Instead of cuddling with Yui, she'd rather be cuddling with Chinatsu, smelling her hair fluffs. On the topic of kissing, she could only imagine gently touching her lips to Chinatsu's...
Wait, what am I thinking?
Akari felt her heart pounding in her chest, almost painfully. A new feeling of warm, giddy excitement was spreading across her body. She could only think of a single person now.
I'm in love with Chinatsu-chan.
The realization completely broke Akari's train of thought. For a few minutes, her mind was nothing but happy warm mush. Mostly pink and soft, with some bright blue eyes mixed in.
Yet eventually, the giddiness was interrupted by a new form of anxiety. She had been thinking about Yui's crush, right? And...
With me having a crush on Chinatsu-chan, and her having a crush on Yui-chan, then what happens if Yui-chan has a crush on me?
It would result in a terrible love triangle. Akari had no idea what she would do in that situation.
Now it was even more imperative for her to figure out Yui's crush. She needed to do it to help Yui. To help Chinatsu. To help the amusement club. And now, most importantly, to help herself.