Chapter 10: Restart the game (part 2)
Amano Keita:
It's 8 o'clock at the morning. I was sitting at one of the window seats of my daily bus to school. After yesterday's chaos, I didn't have the energy to ride my bicycle today. I was looking outside the window and thinking about certain things happened yesterday. Many things happened last day, which would probably change my relationships with my friends completely. I hate the fact that I love spending times with Aguri-san.
If only I didn't meet her at the first place... If only I didn't run towards her that day when she misunderstood about Uehara-kun flirting with Chiaki...
It's all because of Chiaki then... if only I didn't meet her... by the way, how did I meet her? That was because of Uehara-kun.
If only I didn't meet Uehara-kun in fact... He was the reason of this rollercoaster ride of my school life.
Wait, how did I first meet Uehara-kun? I remember that was in the arcade. But how did I become friends with him? Ah... that was because of the heated conversation about the game club...
Wait, so it's all because of Tendou-san. I got it now. If she didn't ask me to come to the game club, anything would not have happened...
Nah... nah... Amano, think carefully... it's all your fault... If only you had some useful brain cells, the disasters might have been avoided. But no... you decided to be as useful as a solar powered torch.
F*ck it. I want to play some games now. The games were the only things which can make me happy at this moment. There's still some time for the bus to reach my school. So in the meantime, I
opened my smart phone and opened my favourite fight game.
But as soon as I started to play, a notification popped up to disturb me. What? A message from Aguri-san? I opened it and..
{Playing the sh*t games again? Good to see Amanocchi hasn't changed a bit.}
Seriously? Does she have a 3rd eye? How could she tell that just as I started playing. I almost freaked out.
{Where are you? Did you put a camera somewhere on my body?}
{I just love your panic face, Amanocchi. So cute.}
{Seriously where are you?}
{Look at your left.}
My left? At my left is the window. Oh...
I saw a cheerful Aguri-san waving her hand from another bus standing just by my bus. Both the buses were stopping at the red signal ahead. Coincidentally Aguri-san was in the other bus. Wait, since when was she watching me?
"Fufu... Love to see you're still an idiot, Amanocchi."
"You're talking like you're seeing me after a long time, Aguri-san.", I told her with a boring face.
"Let's see who reach school first, Amanocchi!"
"You do know we are not the drivers, don't you?"
I couldn't help but smiled at her. Isn't she looking even cuter today?
Eventually, Aguri-san's bus reached the school first. At the school gate, I saw Aguri-san standing there, waiting for me. She saw me and pouted.
"Amanocchi, you're so late."
"Huh? I think you reached here just about 3-4 minutes earlier."
"It's still late. So as a punishment, you're going pay for the meal at our usual meet at the restaurant."
"Haha. Nice try.", I said to her while gently patting her head because of habit. She didn't resist it.
It seemed as though she liked it. I would be lying if I say I don't like stroking her head.
Eventually we were walking very close to each other. Our shoulders were almost touching. Aguri-san was talking about her usual stuff. But I had a feeling that I was forgetting a very important thing. About the entrance of the building, we suddenly heard a familiar voice...
"I think I saw you before."
Both me and Aguri-san looked behind us. A boring looking student, probably a senpai, waved his hands towards me. Wait, where did I see him before? I was absolute sure that I had seen him before.
"I remember your name now, Amano right?"
"Ah... actually...", I stuttered as I could remember him properly. After he realized my trouble, he looked a bit angry.
"Ah jeez, don't tell me you forgot me. Remember the first time you arrived at the game club?"
At that moment I remembered him. He was Kase senpai, one of the senior members of the game club.
"Oh ho Kase senpai... I completely forgot haha... what are you doing here?"
"What do you mean what I'm doing here? It's also my school. By the way, what club you're doing nowadays, Amano? I hardly met you after that day.", Kase senpai asked me just as you expect from a senior to ask about his juniors.
"Oh... actually I'm not really in a club."
"Sigh... as expected of you. Oh... by the way, who is this girl?", Kase senpai noticed the presence of Aguri-san.
"Ah... konnichiwa, I'm Aguri. Thank you for taking care of Amanocchi."
"Well...", Kase senpai seemed like to have clicked something in his mind... then he looked at me with sharp eyes...
Wait, is there any problem? I don't like where this is going...
Senpai suddenly grabbed my shoulders and embraced me like a proud father. Both me and Aguri-san didn't have a clue what was going on... But then Kase senpai whispered in my ears, carefully so that Aguri-san couldn't hear it.
"Well done junior. Now I understood why you rejected our game club even though you love games so much."
"Huh? Wh-"
"I know, I know. Clubs are important. But even more important thing is taking care of your girlfriend. I fully support you taking time for your cute girlfriend. Today you won my heart." "Wait you got it all wr-"
"The way you two were walking beside each other just shows how much you love each other."
Ah sh*t... now I remembered the important thing. We shouldn't walk closely in school... This would definitely create misunderstandings.
A very happy looking Kase senpai said goodbye to us and left. Aguri-san was confused as she didn't know what Kase senpai told in my ears.
"Umm... Aguri-san.. it looks like we shouldn't walk together. Even Kase senpai had the misunderstanding."
"Eh? So that was it?"
"Yes. So I'm leaving now."
"Wait!"
"Hey?"
Aguri-san suddenly grabbed my hand and then dragged me with her to into the school.
"I don't really care that much about public eyes. Why are you acting like such snowflakes,
Amanocchi?"
"But... there may be Uehara-kun and Tendou-san too. If they saw us..."
"If they see us they would see us. It's their eyes, their choice."
"What happened to you today, Aguri-san?"
She didn't answer but showed me her pouted face. Seriously, something's wrong with her today.
Anyway, she eventually left when we reached her class. Before leaving, she reminded me one important thing.
"Meet me behind the main building at lunch break. Just as I said last night."
Aguri-san once again smiled at me and then entered her classroom which was class B. Fortunately we didn't encounter anyone yet as plenty if time is still left before 1st class. I entered my classroom which was class F. Uehara-kun is also in my class but as I said earlier, he did not arrive yet.
However, some of Uehara-kun's friends had arrived already. They were talking loudly inside just as every other day. I sneaked through to my seat without letting anyone notice me. They would not know me anyway.
More and more students were coming as time passed. At some time, I heard Uehara-kun's friends shouting,
"Yo Uehara! You didn't come last day. We worried about your health. Are you okay?"
"Haha I'm absolutely okay. Last day I just didn't want to come."
Uehara-kun started talking as usual to his friends. However, I could feel some discomfort in his voice. My seat is far ahead of Uehara-kun so I couldn't see his face directly. I also didn't have the courage to look behind to him. The whole situation was really awkward for maybe both of us.
"Umm... Uehara, where's you girlfriend? You didn't come with her today?"
"Whoa haha! Really... oh yeah she didn't come today.. I wonder why?", Uehara-kun answered in a weird voice.
"Eh? Uehara, what are you saying?"
"Hey Uehara, don't tell me, you are on bad terms? And maybe you're thinking about break up?"
"*Cough*... *Cough*... What you even... *Cough*... saying?"
"Yo Uehara you okay?! Take some water!"
"Haha I'm fine... *Cough*... I'm... fine."
Poor Uehara-kun... I really have sympathy for him. No... wait... actually I am the reason why he was in this state. It's like burning someone's house and then feeling sympathy for them. It's literally the worst thing to do.
Fortunately the class teacher came right then to release the awkwardness. In the meantime, I gathered my courage and looked behind at Uehara-kun. He wasn't looking at my direction but listening to the teacher carefully. So everything's fine?
.
.
.
As soon as the bell rang to indicate lunch break, I sneaked out of the classroom. I didn't want to be noticed by Uehara-kun. But the problem didn't end here.
Aguri-san told me to come outside of the school building, but to do that, I had to take the stairs, and to reach the stairs I had to pass by class A. In class A, both Tendou-san and Chiaki were there. The last thing I want is to meet anyone of them at this moment. But then again, Aguri-san asked me to come outside so I had to go.
I was thinking about what to do, but right then darkness appeared in front of me. Basic someone covered my eyes with her hands from behind. And I absolutely know who is it...
"Do you still enjoy this type of childish game, Aguri-san?"
"Eh? How did you know it's me, Amanocchi? I didn't even say anything."
"I know your touch."
"Hehe, did you just say something incredible!?"
"... anyway forget that."
Jeez, I wanted to say something funny but I myself got embarrassed to what I said.
But Aguri-san is sure having fun. She is smiling cheerfully at me. I sighed because even if I try to get angry at her, I can't do that. That's the problem with me. Everytime I see her smile, I forget about the situation.
"Amanocchi, your face is complete red haha."
"Forget my face, why are you still here Aguri-san. Didn't you tell me you would wait for me outside the building?"
"Oh yeah but...", Aguri-san stopped for a moment and then told, "Actually I didn't want to be seen by Tendou-san. That's why I was waiting for you here."
"Umm... Aguri-san, what's the actual matter? Is it really important for us to go outside the school building?"
"Yeah it's absolutely important!"
"Whoa! Why are you so pumped up?"
"Actually...", her face turned a little bit red. Is she embarrassed? Why?
Then she suddenly grabbed my hand and took me inside her classroom, which is class B. I was surprised but then she held a plastic bag in front of me. A nice fragrance was coming from inside it. Is it perhaps a lunch box?
"I made this lunch for both of us. I thought of eating it outside so no one could watch us. You always eat in canteen and you also liked my food last day right?"
"Eh?"
I can't believe it! Handmade lunch? I only had fantasies of having a girlfriend's handmade lunch box. I didn't even expect Tendou-san to do it. But here we are...
"Hello Amanocchi? Can you hear me?"
"Ah yeah... sorry I was lost in thought."
"So what did you think? Where should we eat it?"
"Umm... I think your class is the safest place, Aguri-san."
"Eh? I mean you're somehow right... but what about your class, Amanocchi?"
"My class is fine... as long as you want Uehara-kun to see us eating lunch together."
"NO WAY!"
Yeah... I can't even imagine that scenario.
"Then let's eat here.", Aguri-san reluctantly agreed. I can understand why she was reluctant. It was because of her many friends in the class. Certainly they would be surprised to see her to eat with a gloomy boy like me.
Aguri-san made a bento for me. I almost couldn't hold back my tears of joy. A bento made by a girl for me. Aguri-san, you're an angel. Sometimes devil but sometimes angel. We were sitting on two chairs with the food on a desk.
"How is this, Amanocchi?"
"Well... at least you didn't mess up your lunch box this time."
"Booo... tell me how is the food."
"Fantastic, the vegetable is well cooked, the egg is delicious, everything is so good. As always your food is just so good."
"Ah thank you but don't praise me that much.", Aguri-san blushed.
"No I'm saying what is true. The way you arranged the bento is also very cute, just like you."
"Whoa! Amanocchi you sure learned how to flirt.", Aguri-san got full reddened this time. Now I had the urge to tease her even more.
"I'm not flirting at all. You're the cutest girl I have ever met."
"Jeez, stop it. Everyone can hear us.", Aguri-san this time kicked my legs under the desk. She was blushing even more. For the first time ever, I saw her blushing this much.
Then she suddenly picked some rice with her chopsticks then said, "what is it if you add A with H, Amanocchi?"
"Huh? A with H? It's AH-"
As soon as I said "Ah", she rapidly forced the rice inside my mouth. FEEDING ME!
Now I could feel my face getting hot. Aguri-san clearly beat me. I was the one who was blushing and she was smiling "hehe".
"Hehe, Amanocchi now who is cute?"
"Well you beat me here. Now let me feed you." "Eh?", Aguri-san was surprised.
"Yeah. If you blush, then I win.. how about this?"
"Okay then.", she accepts the challenge.
I then picked some vegetables and slowly moved the chopsticks towards her mouth. She opened her mouth and...
What is this? This is actually quite embarrassing for me! I don't know about Aguri-san but it seems like she is also embarrassed. We both are embarrassed.
"Let's not do it, again."
"Yeah."
We both agreed to it. We continued eating until two girls appeared in front of us. They probably are Aguri-san's friends.
"Whoa! Aguri, you and your boyfriend are so cute together. You didn't tell us about him before!"
"Is that so?", Aguri-san hesitated but replied with a meek smile.
I think she was not trying to deny that "boyfriend" thing because even if she did, they were not going to believe her anyway after watching our flirting.
When I was about to leave the class, I remembered something and told Aguri-san to come to the game club after school ends.
"Huh? Why so?"
"Misumi-kun wanted to meet us there."
"But why?"
"Aguri-san, you want to end the misunderstandings between us right? Misumi-kun wanted to help us."
"Oh so that's why... but is that really necessary? Won't it cause trouble for you, Amanocchi?" Aguri-san looked worried about me. That's pretty cute.
"Nah don't worry. I know Misumi-kun well. He must have thought something." "Ah okay, then, if you say so."
.
.
.
As soon as the last period ended, I sneaked out of the class again. Surprisingly I avoided talking to Uehara-kun today. Probably he also did not want to talk to me.
I reached the club room somehow without anyone noticing me. I saw Aguri-san waiting for me outside the club room.
"Oh you're here already?"
"Yeah but no one is here, Amanocchi."
"Probably Misumi-kun is inside the classroom. Let me message him."
"Umm... Amanocchi, isn't Tendou-san also a member of this club?"
"Y-Yeah... but I don't think she would be here today, otherwise Misumi-kun would not have called us."
My message was read immediately and Misumi-kun opened the door.
Both me and Aguri-san entered the room. There were 3 people inside- Misumi-kun, Oiso senpai and Kase senpai. As I thought, Tendou-san was not here.
Both the senpais were surprised to see us. Kase senpai said, "Whoa Amano? Did you perhaps change your mind and decided to join us?"
"Ah not that senpai?"
"So perhaps you even brought your girlfriend to join so that you both be together, incredible thought! How cute. I approve."
"Ah..."
Misumi-kun stopped him and said, "Kase senpai, please shut up for a moment. We have a very important case here."
"Huh? A case?"
"Yes, it would be better if both you and Oiso senpai go out for some time."
"The fuck are you saying? I'm not going anywhere."
"I guess it can't be helped. Anyway.. you can enter now!"
Suddenly the door opened and three persons entered the room. They saw us, we saw them and all of us shocked! Aguri-san fearfully held my hand. I looked back at Misumi-kun and he said in my ears,
"Don't worry there's only way to clear this misunderstanding and that's why I called them." "But Misumi-kun..."
Those three were of course- Tendou-san, Uehara-kun and Chiaki. Wait why Chiaki is here?
They were also surprised to see me and Aguri-san here. That's probably the plan of Misumikun.
"Can someone tell me what is happening? Misumi tell me something. Amano? Tendou? Somebody?", Kase senpai broke the silence.
"Oh shut up senpai! Tendou-san, Uehara-kun, Amano-kun and Aguri-san... please sit down.
Let's have a chat here.", Misumi-kun was acting like a crazy detective at this moment.
"Umm... what about me?", Chiaki asked.
"Sigh... yeah you too...", Misumi-kun looked uninterested on her.
We obediently followed his order. Aguri-san sit together with me and the other three sat in front of us. Aguri-san very quietly said to me so that nobody else could hear her, "Amanocchi, please help me today."
"Don't worry Aguri-san, I'm with you."
"Always?"
"Always."
.
.
.
[To be continued]