Chapter 9

“Hey, why does Mr. Kaji call you ‘Haru’, Takumi?”

“Ack—”

One day, a few weeks after Akira came to the school, Yuki suddenly asked me that question and made me almost spew out the milk I was drinking.

“Wh-why all of a sudden…?”

While I was wiping my mouth with my sleeve and tried to look nonchalant, Kazuki immediately chimed in.

“Isn’t ‘Haru’ the name I registered on the Real Love app? So, is it really him after all?”

“Kazuki, what is this ‘Real Love’ app?”

“You see, it’s a dating—”

“Aaah! It’s nothing! No! It has nothing to do with that at all!”

I know it would look weird if I get upset, but I don’t know what Kazuki would end up saying if I let him blabber.

The moment I stood up in a panic, the lunch box I was eating dropped to the floor with a loud clatter. The sound echoed throughout the classroom, causing all eyes to pinpoint on me at once.

Ah, this was the worst. The stares from everyone felt painful. If I could, I just wanted to run out of the classroom right here and now.

“Hahaha, you’re too upset.”

“Shut up! I’m not upset!”

“Hmm, then why are you panicking that much?”

“That’s . . .”

I couldn’t say anything back the instant I got asked. Kazuki grinned at me, as if he was saying “See? I’m right”. Yuki, who had been staring at our exchange, interrupted with a puzzled look on his face.

“Dating? What do you mean? Doesn’t it mean that I’m the only one being left out here? And what’s your relationship with Mr. Kaji . . .?”

Yuki certainly has a point. I knew it wasn’t good for Yuki to be left out of the group, even though the three of us hang out together all the time.

However, it was a bit hard to talk about my dark past on my own. If anything, I didn’t want to talk about it.

“Well, to put it simply, Takumi cross-dressed and I’m suspecting the guy he met from the dating app might be Mr. Kaji.”

“. . . Cross dress?”

“Wai— Kazuki! You’re cutting too many details!”

Without caring about my struggle, Kazuki just went and gave an explanation that could be misunderstood in many ways. The way he said it, it sounded as if I was happy to cross-dress and went to meet a guy!

“Yuki, that’s not true! It’s not like I did it because I like it!”

“So it’s true that you cross dressed.”

“Yeah yeah, it was so cute. Wanna see?”

“. . . Kazuki, don’t spread the stain of my life even more!”

As if he had been wanting to show it, he showed Yukiya his phone screen that has the picture of me cross dressing from that time, so I tried to stop him in a panic, but it was too late.

“. . . Is this really you, Takumi?”

“. . .”

A while after Yuki stared at the phone screen shown to him, he let out a dismayed sound for some reason.

Oh no, he definitely despised me. I couldn’t even see his expression because he was looking down, but he must have felt put off by such a thing.

“You met a guy . . . while dressed like this?”

“N— no.”

I felt like there was a hint of anger in his voice. Yuki is a serious guy so he must not like pranks like this.

“The real thing was way cuter, you see.”

“—Who is it that you say is cute? Did you meet an idol or something?”

“!”

Just as I was about to open my mouth to complain about Kazuki’s inconsiderate remark, a voice suddenly and unexpectedly came from the corridor window behind me.

“Ohh, if it isn’t Mr. Akira.”

“Don’t give me your ‘Ohh’. You’re not supposed to be using your phone on school grounds at this time.”

“Oh crap—”

Akira spoke in an annoyed manner and entered the classroom. He had seen everything clearly, so there was no way to hide it.

“Please let me off the hook, teach . . .”

“Sorry, it’s the rules. I’ll return it to you after school, so give it up.”

When Akira, who had a questionable smile plastered on his face, held out his hand, Kazuki dropped his shoulders and reluctantly gave the phone he was holding onto.

Serves him right. I felt bad for Kazuki, but I also thought so just a little. But still, why was Akira here around this hour?

There should still be plenty of time before the fifth period class.

“. . . Why are you here, teach?”

Perhaps wondering the same thing, Kazuki asked with a dissatisfied voice.

“Me? I’m—”

“Ah, whoa . . .”

Suddenly, he wrapped his arm around me and I lost my balance. I was completely caught off guard and before I had time to resist, I was in Akira’s arms.

“I came here to borrow Haru for a minute.”

“What?! I don’t wanna! You’re just gonna make me carry all your shit again!”

“Hey, watch your mouth.”

While still holding me firmly in his arms, he put on a polite smile on his face and emphasized the fact that he was a teacher.

I didn’t really care, but why was he so strong? I was sure I wasn’t so weak myself, but he didn’t even budge.

“I want you to help me look for history materials that’ll be used for the next class.”

“It’s a pain, I don’t wanna do it! I mean, why don’t you ask one of the girls if you want to look for materials?”

Akira was very popular, so there must be many people who would be more than happy to help him if he asked. In fact, there were a lot of girls waiting in anticipation around here.

“Haru is the academic manager of social studies, right?”

“ . . . Yeah, but . . .”

When he said that, I couldn’t even say anything back. I couldn’t believe that the activities I decided to be a part of in April would backfire on me now.

I didn’t want to go. It was too much trouble to look for material during my lunch break.

I didn’t want to take on this task if I could help it.

“—I’ll help as well. I have some questions I want to ask.”

Perhaps sensing my reluctance, Yuki volunteered to go.

“No, it’s fine. The reference room is cramped. Haru alone is enough. Also, what do you want to ask? Is it something you can’t tell me here?”

“No . . . err . . .”

For a moment, Yuki glanced at me. I wondered why I had a bad feeling about this . .

“Why does Mr. Kaji call Takumi ‘Haru’?”

I knew it! I could see Akira’s slight reaction to Yuki’s words.

I wondered what kind of face he was making behind me right now. Even if he wouldn’t, or couldn’t say the truth, I wonder what kind of excuse he’ll make.

“Ah, well . . . Actually, he looked similar to the cat in my parents’ house.”

“Whaat? Cat?!”

“Cat, huh.”

My voice and Yuki’s voice overlapped involuntarily. While I wondered what kind of excuse he’d make, he came up with a cat!

“He’s very cautious and gets angry when you approach him, but once you put him at your bosom, he becomes very obedient.”

Hearing what Akira said, the classroom was filled with many “Oh . . .” sounds of them being strangely convinced, and small chuckles. Come on! They shouldn’t be convinced by that!

“True, he really feels like a very cautious cat.”

With that one statement, it seems that the idea of Akira being the dating app guy has disappeared from Kazuki’s list of options. I was glad it turned out that way, but what he said made me feel complicated!

“Well then, I’ll be taking Haru.”

“Hey, wait! I haven’t said anything about doing it yet . . .”

Akira’s eyes glinted and his arm around my shoulder tightened.

“Did you forget what I have on my phone?”

“!”

I could feel my blood drain out of me as he whispered in a low voice that could only reach my ears. I felt cold sweat running down my back.

I couldn’t possibly forget . . . I could never forget what happened on that day.

“Hey, that’s not fair . . .”

“Haha, you’ll do it for me, won’t you?”

I gave him a calm expression that showed no grudges and implied a smile. Being reminded of that thing made me feel a little dizzy.

“. . . I’d be happy to do so.”

Akira smiled with satisfaction when he heard the words that came out of my mouth right along with a deep sigh.

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