Chapter 19: Her Secret
“Even after I told that baldie to stay away from you, he has the guts to get all frickin’ buddy-buddy with you…”
“Uh, what? Are you sure you're not making some kinda mistake?”
It's after school, and Touka and I are walking to the train station together.
We’re discussing what happened with Kai earlier today. Touka's been complaining about how he was getting a little "too close" to me during our conversation.
In the end, I accepted his apology. He was very adamant on me being his “boss,” but that wouldn't have really done any favors for my reputation at school—I'm trying to show people I'm not a criminal, remember? So instead, I just told him to act like a normal student at school around me. He accepted, but he didn't seem too happy about it.
Touka's all pissed about all this, too—she wants me to be harsher on Kai, but that'd be kind of like beating a dead horse.
“I’m not making a mistake! Did you see the way he was looking at you?! I'm telling you, the guy looks freakin' thirsty as hell! He's just waiting to snatch you up 'cause he’s clearly head over heels for you. You better watch your back.”
“You’re just imagining things.”
She sighs.
“Man, looks like everyone's been ignoring me lately. Oh well, I guess it’s up to me to protect you from lover boy,” she says with a serious expression.
She’s definitely making a mountain out of a molehill. 'Watch my back'? Yeah, I can see that he's interested in me and admires me and all, but I think it's more like someone he respects rather than prospective boyfriend material.
I figure I should just change the topic.
“Anyways, midterms are coming up. You think that study meet was helpful?”
“Hm... I don't really think it mattered. Even if I hadn't gone, I'd probably still end up getting the best scores in my year. But since I did so many of those mock exams, I’m pretty confident about taking that top spot.”
Damn, look at that confidence. She said that with a straight face, as if it were totally natural for her.
“That’s some confidence you've got there. What if you don’t take that first place, though? That'd be pretty embarrassing after bragging to me about it, huh?”
“Nah, I'm serious. I’ve always been a top student, so I'm pretty sure I'll get it. I'll even make a bet with you right now, no problem—I bet you I'll end up with the top marks.”
I smile. I’m really impressed with her. No one else is as self-assured and gutsy as she is. Sure, I’ll “gamble” with her. Game on. But what should we bet on? I don't want to put any real money on the line, especially since she's younger than me. Oh wait… I have a good idea.
“Sure, let's do it. If you get the top spot, I’ll treat you to whatever you want. But, if you don’t… you’ll have to make me a bento.”
Her cheeks redden.
“Oh my god, Senpai. I didn’t know you liked my bentos that much! So that's your prize, huh? Wow, what’s next? Asking for my hand in marriage? Like, should I be worried here?”
“Chill. I'm just asking for a bento, not your hand.”
“...J-Jeez! It was obviously a joke! And I'll make you a bento whenever you want. You don't need to bet over it!”
She puffs her cheeks.
“Oh, well, if that’s the case, how about we forget the results? You make me a bento, and I'll treat you to something. How's that?”
“Huh? Seriously?! Nice! I’ll feel way better about making you one now! Man, now I feel kinda bad. I wasn’t really planning on actually doing it, but if you’re going to treat me to whatever I want, then…”
“One question, though: I know the bento you gave me the other day was an apology and all, but wouldn’t it just be easier to buy me something from the cafeteria from now on? Why would you go out of your way to make lunch for me?”
She looks me in the eyes and gives me a mischievous, little smile.
“Well… it’s just 'cause my precious boyfriend asked me to do it!”
“...Uh, your fake boyfriend, you mean.”
I know she’s just joking, but it still embarrasses me when she says stuff like that. I can’t even look her straight in the eyes when she does.
She looks confused for a second. Right when I’m about to ask her what's wrong, she sprints off, leaving me behind. She keeps going until she reaches a railway crossing gate. The gate's arm is descending, and she quickly stops in her tracks and turns around to face me.
Right on cue, a train passes by us; it envelopes us in a loud, rhythmic thunking sound.
She smiles over at me and says, amid the din, “Althou—… fake… my… real… ago.”
The train travels further and further away, and the gates eventually rise again, but the only thing I'm really paying attention to is her smile.
“Uh, sorry. I didn’t really hear what you just said.”
The train kinda came at a bad time. It was making too much noise, so I couldn't really make out what she said.
“Nuh-uh. It’s a secret!”
Uh… No, for real. What'd she say?
Oh well, whatever. At least she seems to be in a really good mood now, so I'll just forget about it.
