Afar
So I wait for the day
The courage to say how much
"I Love You"

"Minako..!"

I turned, a smile automatically making its way to my face as Yukari came running after me from the other end of the hallway.

"Phew. Glad I caught up to you."

I let her catch her breath first before asking what was up.

"Practice was canceled, and since you don't have practice today either, I figured we'd hang out, if you don't have any plans that is."

My cheeks turned a bit red, and the sly grin Yukari sent me was a sign that she knew what I was planning on doing today.

"Oh forget it, I'll grab Fuuka instead – have fun with Sanada-senpai!"

"Y-Yukari!" I yelled, flushing at the double meaning of her words as she ran off, laughing.

Still, I couldn't help but smile in gratitude when she let me be. After all, I only get to spend time with Akihiko-senpai twice a week – sometimes only once, and there were often times wherein I couldn't at all.

As I made my way down the stairs to meet up with him, I wasn't surprised to see the famed Akihiko Sanada being surrounded by his fans.

"Senpai! Let's go get some ramen!"

"Ne, go out with me senpai!"

"Want to eat beef bowls senpai?"

I had to stop myself from laughing at the look on his face – clueless and confused Akihiko-senpai as always. It made me wonder why he didn't just ask to meet me elsewhere like last time – but then again, he wasn't sure if I was free today too.

Deciding to have a bit of fun first, I merely leaned against the railing of the stairs and watched the scene unfold, giggling at how he turned down one girl after another.

Honestly, senpai gave a whole new meaning to the word "dense" – he took all of their demands literally! I bet he doesn't even know what their true intentions are too. And again, I am reminded of the time he took me to the Beef Bowl Shop. I was a bit disappointed, since I expected him to take me somewhere, but since he is Akihiko-senpai, I still found it amusing and so… him.

"Minako..?"

I almost lost my balance when he suddenly called me, the noise coming from the girls dying down when he uttered my name. It may have been a week since our agreement to call each other by our first names, but I still wasn't used to him calling me that. It made my chest feel warm and made my cheeks turn pink.

"H-Hey, senpai." I gave a sheepish smile and scratched the back of my head – a habit I picked up from living in the same dorm as him.

Besides him calling my name, I also feel a bit nervous calling his name despite the 'senpai' attached. I try not to when we're in school, otherwise, rumors will start growing worse. It's bad enough that they talk about me, but to drag Akihiko-senpai in too? That's just annoying.

My heart began to beat twice as fast when he pushed his way through the bevy of girls and headed towards me.

The protests and indignant whines from his fans were heard by deaf ears as he asked what I was doing. I could only give a small shrug and he automatically knew that I was free for the afternoon. So he smiled that rare smile of his and took my hand – just like he would always do whenever we're surrounded by his admirers - he could just tell that they're out to get me.

"Alright, let's go."

Like the first time we hung out, I could feel the glares from his devoted followers, but I always did my best in ignoring them, focusing instead on what senpai was saying, or perhaps where he plans on taking me this time.

Hagakure? Or perhaps the Beef Bowl Shop again? I didn't really mind – they served the best beef bowls. And I blame senpai for my current addiction for them.

Minutes later after leaving Gekkoukan High, I found myself tilting my head to the side upon recognizing the familiar path back home. I took a quick glance at him, seeing his brows furrowed, his eyes looking straight ahead yet seeing nothing – he was in deep thought, apparently.

My lips parted but I closed them again, not wanting to distract him from his thoughts. Whatever it was he was thinking, it's probably important – since senpai doesn't like wasting time, and at that thought, I couldn't help but smile and blush at the idea that he doesn't consider our after-school-hang-outs as a waste of time.

"Minako…"

I blinked and turned to him. Senpai wasn't looking at me, rather, he seemed to be avoiding my gaze today.

"I… never mind."

And there he goes again with that 'never mind' of his..! I was about to tell him to just spill whatever it was, but the train arrived. I felt senpai's hand lightly tap the small of my back, guiding me into the cart filled with people. It was silent between us, though our surroundings buzzed with life as friends talked, gossiped, and laughed. It felt kind of odd for the two of us to be there, but since senpai didn't utter a single word, then I refuse to speak too, fearing that I might end up offending him or distracting his thoughts.

With a quiet sigh, I put on my earphones, knowing that senpai doesn't really mind if I listen to my mp3 player. Besides, he could always call my attention if he wants to speak to me. I switched on my portable player and let the music take over my being, letting me daydream about things.

I could see senpai's reflection from the window I was facing, and while it may appear as if I'm looking at the view, I'm actually looking at his face, at his eyes…

…They were looking at me.

Can my face turn any redder?

"Iwatodai… Iwatodai…"

I blinked when I saw senpai look up all of a sudden, and I almost giggled upon seeing his cheeks turn red.

"Minako."

I lowered my earphones and turned to face him, trying my best to look as if I didn't know he had been staring at me.

"We're here." He said, nodding towards the door when the train stopped.

I merely smiled and nodded once, letting him lead me out of the cart and out of the station. I expected senpai to talk this time, but like before, he was silent and in deep thought.

I guess I should start a conversation.

"So, senpai…" I turned my head to him, seeing him instantly look towards me.

From those two words alone, he seemed to have awakened from some sort of dream. Senpai had suddenly turned red again, and then sighed heavily, the blush on his face fading as he looked at anywhere else but me.

I pouted. "I'm bored."

"H-Huh? Oh, right, sorry." He mumbled, unsure of what else to say.

"Again, I repeat." I clasped my hands behind my back. "I'm-"

"…Look, if you don't want to tell me then you don't have to…"

At this, I stopped and raised a brow at him.

"Senpai..?"

I saw how worried he suddenly became, though he did his best avoiding my eyes.

"It's just that…" he seemed hesitant to continue, but he did eventually. "Is it true you're going out with Junpei?"

My body froze all of a sudden – it was like Mitsuru-senpai had cast a Bufu spell at me.

"Minako…?"

"What? No!"

I wasn't able to see how he reacted, but I did note how sorry his tone was.

"I see…" he sighed heavily, so I looked up at him to see his gaze averted. "Oh, no… it was just a rumor I heard. Sorry…"

I shook my head at that. "Don't get the wrong idea, senpai."

"I-I see…" He nodded once. "Anyway, I'm sorry."

"Senpai…"

"It's bad enough that I listened to a rumor, but then I confronted you about it… It was incredibly rude of me."

I couldn't help but smile slightly. Senpai had always been polite, even when he rejects his fans.

He soon looked at me and gave a barely noticeable grin – the one I found cute. "If I hear anyone say that again, I'll tell them it's not true."

My cheeks grew warm at the idea of senpai possibly defending me from those rumors. "You… you don't have to do that…"

"Is that so?" I fidgeted upon sensing his tone – it wasn't one of anger, but more of a "no way" type of tone. "Maybe it's best to avoid giving rumors any credibility by trying to deny them."

"…You've… got a point." I agreed, nodding once and shifting a bit. "These rumors… how long have they been going around?"

"As far as I know, a week. But I'm starting to think it's been longer."

I bit my lower lip at that. Senpai must have been worried, not to mention, did it get to Junpei and Yukari yet? What would they think of that?

"So… umm… should we get something on our way home?" He asked in hopes of probably lightening up the mood. He sighed dejectedly upon realizing that we were already standing in front of the dorm. "Oh, we're already back…"

I, too, was disappointed, but it disappeared when he gave me a grin.

"Do you want anything to eat?"

I immediately smiled. "Something sweet." After that news about me and Junpei, I needed sugar… lots of it.

"Yeah, that might be nice for a change."

And much to my surprise, he took my hand, as in really held it – not my wrist or my arm. His hold was a lot gentler than normal, and it made my fingers curl to hold his hand back, something which I didn't or haven't done yet since those times he would take it.

Akihiko-senpai didn't seem to mind it and just continued to lead me to wherever it was he planned on taking me. It made me wonder how he would do as a leader of SEES, made me think if he was aware of how safe I feel whenever he's holding my hand like this or if he's close by…

…it made me feel like I can overcome any kind of Shadow thrown my way.

Was he aware of how much I'm falling for him?