Akira closed his shoe locker, ready to leave school when he saw Shiho at her own shoe locker. He walked over to her, lightly tapping her on the shoulder. He nearly jumped when she did. She immediately relaxed when she realized it was him.

"Oh, hello Akira-kun. Um, do you need something." Akira shook his head. "Oh, well, if you're not busy, do you… mind keeping me company? I was going to walk around the shopping district for a bit."

He accepted, and together the two made way for the shopping district. Akira couldn't help but watch her walk on the way. Bold steps, as if she was making sure her feet hit the ground. It made him wonder, however brief, if he and Ryuji didn't hesitate, could things have been different?

Quickly he replaced those thoughts with rationality. There was no way they would have gotten through that Palace in one trip without Ann.

"I talked to Ann." Shiho started, snapping Akira out of his thoughts. "She was so surprised we were going to the same school. So, I wanted to thank you!"

He rose his head slightly. "What for?"

Shiho's smile was brilliant. This was what Ann had. What Ann lost. "For not telling her so I can see her beautiful reaction!" Akira chuckled. For everything different between the two girls, there definitely were some similarities. "Has Ann ever told you how we met?"

He didn't even need to think. "Her painting sucked."

She laughed, though when she was about to touch his arm, she hesitated and pulled back. "It did," she stressed. "If you had seen it, you'd understand. I felt bad for the painting."

"Just the painting?"

Shiho stopped walking, turning and facing him. "I can't imagine what it must be like to have people constantly talking behind your back, saying things completely untrue. Just because of your looks. I was lucky, I guess. I was never the looker so I was able to avoid the attention. Though I was still alone in the end."

Akira shook his head. "I disagree. You're beautiful, Shiho."

To his surprise, Shiho didn't blush or get embarrassed. Instead, her eyes widened in shock before softening. "It's weird being told that from someone who's not Ann and actually means it. It feels nice."

"I'll call you beautiful as much as you want."

Shiho snorted. "Where do you get that kind of attitude? Speaking of which, do you call everyone by their given name, no honorifics?"

Akira blinked, realizing his mistake. He definitely wasn't expected to be called out. "Oh, uh, I guess since Ann has talked about you so much, it just felt natural."

"So I'm a unique case?"

He shrugged. "Pretty much. If you want, I can stop."

"No, it's fine. I was just curious."

"Hey, you're Suzui-san, right?" The voice came from behind the two. Shiho hesitantly turned around and Akira followed. "Am I, uh, interrupting?"

Shiho shook her head, her short hair barely following her movements. "Um, what do you need, uh…"

"Oh, well, I was wondering what… actually can we…" The boy's gaze kept shifting from Shiho to Akira. It didn't take much for Akira to figure out this boy's goal. And he had a feeling he wasn't helping by standing there with a blank expression. "Uh what do you like to do on your free time?"

Regardless of his intention, the fact he still managed to ask that with him standing right there was fascinating. Especially since it was crystal clear Shiho didn't recognize him at all.

"I'm sorry, I'm not interested."

"What-!?" The boy looked like he was slapped across the face. Akira was impressed if he was being honest. Stumbling, the boy took his leave without a word.

"…Was that too cold?"

"Freezing."

"Oh. I should apologize."

Akira shrugged. "He had it coming."

"I'm sure he didn't mean any harm. He deserved kinder words. Everyone does. He only asked a question. But… that's how they all start. If I learned anything from Ann, it's how to reject."

Rather than let the obvious silence consume them, Akira instead laughed. "That she does."

"You wouldn't happen to be talking from experience, would you?" Akira laughed even harder, shaking his head. "Okay, good, because I was going to ask Ann how she let someone like you go."

"That's quite the compliment."

"With all the praise she sings of you? That was nothing." Shiho shook her head, amused. "Anyway, I hope he doesn't hold it against me."

"You might be the talk of the school."

Shiho groaned. "I'm going home. Thank you for today, Akira."

Extra: Experience

"…Fishing?"

"Don't knock it until you tried it," Akira said, handing her a fishing pole with a grin. "It's a great way to unwind and relax."

She hesitantly accepts the pole, raising it to eye level. "Where did you even get these?"

"Back in the city." Shiho hummed, looking over the pole, running her finger across each line. She jumped when Akira cleared his throat. "Are you going to fish? If you don't want to that's fine."

Shiho shook her head, almost missing her ponytail go swoosh. "I'd love to try. You might have to help me if I get a big one."

"In this town? I doubt it. But of course."

It took some time for her to get used to relying on her upper body after working on her lower body for so long, but she was able to catch smaller fish easily.

After a while, she put her rod down and sat down on the rocks. She wiped her forehead before hugging her knees. "Fishing's a lot tougher than I expected."

Akira didn't respond, and she could see why. There were large splashes in the distance and Akira's bobber was close to them.

"Almost…" She whispered, her hands clenching in anticipation.

Before the fish turned around and the splashes left in another direction.

Akira let out a disappointed sigh before reeling in his line. "That's was a good attempt." Shiho offered a sympathetic smile, having lost plenty of fish like that in the last hour.

"Yeah, but even so, it looks like I won this round."

"…Excuse me?"

Akira pointed to his bucket, half of it filled with decent-sized fish.

Shiho glared, standing up and pointing to her own bucket, nearly filled with much smaller fish. "I caught more."

"Size is what matters in fishing."

"We were competing to see who caught the most fish, not the best fish."

Akira laughed, and Shiho followed suit. It was quickly interrupted when they heard a splash behind them.

"Huh, it's back," Akira mumbled.

"Oh, it's near my bait!" Shiho quickly picked up her rod and assumed a wide stance. She was almost pulled into the lake by a mere goldfish earlier, how much stronger was this one going to be?

"But…how? Did you take some of my top-class bait?"

"I don't know, I ran out so I just took one of yours." When the fish drew near, Shiho's hands tightened around the rod. It was like preparing for a jump scare.

But nothing would prepare her for the sudden tug that had her stumbling forward. She definitely would have fallen in if it weren't for the sudden strong arms wrapped around her waist.

"Pull!" Akira's voice echoed in her ears, allowing her to forget the sudden discomfort she felt and immediately yanked the rod back before being pulled forward.

"Can fish be this strong…?"

"Don't lose focus!"

She yanked again, but didn't seem to be making much progress. "Come! On!" With a sudden shout, she yanked as hard as she could.

The end result was her and Akira toppling to the ground. "Ow…"

"Did we get it?" Akira asked, slightly in a daze.

Shiho didn't know, and would have stood up to check if all her energy wasn't suddenly spent. Right now, she just wanted to lay on Akira's chest for the rest of the day.

"Uh!" She sprung up, breaking free of the arms still around her waist. "Are you all right?" She extended her hand to help him up.

"Yeah…" It seemed like he was still in a daze. Shiho couldn't help but chuckle, poking his nose before turning around.

Her face fell immediately at the sight. "The line snapped…"

She shuddered when a hand touched her shoulder. "It happens." Akira then went on to gather the various tools they used and Shiho took the time to pack up the food they ate during a small break.

"Do you have any idea of what kind of fish that was? Do you think it would have been worth a lot?"

"Probably."

Shiho sighed. "That's…unfortunate."