Chapter 17

Yuzuki and Sei first turned their gazes to the girls their companions were with.

Sei looked at Arisa, and Yuzuki looked at Tenka.

Then they turned their gazes to the girls they were with.

Yuzuki looked at Aria, and Sei looked at Tenka.

Arisa wore a very troubled expression.

Then she stared at Yuzuki and nodded slightly.

"Try to cover it up well."

It felt as if she heard those words.

"Nice to see you again, Sei, and Nagi-san."

"Indeed."

"Yes, Takanase-kun."

Both of them had completely recovered from their initial shock and spoke with calm expressions.

They were, after all, people from Ryosenji and Nagi.

They turned their gazes to Aria, who was standing next to Yuzuki.

"I'm Aria Yukishiro, in the same class as Takanase-kun. Nice to meet you, Ryosenji-san, Nagi-san."

Aria also put on the artificial smile she usually wore at school and gave a small bow.

She looked like a well-behaved top student.

"I'm Sei Ryosenji, a friend of Yuzuki."

"I'm Tenka Nagi, a classmate of Ryosenji-kun."

After exchanging greetings, they moved on to the main topic.

Sei was the one who initiated the conversation.

"...So, Yuzuki. What are you doing with Yukishiro-san?"

"I just happened to run into her here. Isn't that right? Yukishiro."

"Yes. I just happened to run into Takanase-kun... and then we decided to play tennis together."

It was an impromptu act without any prior discussion, but Aria played along.

There were also solo-playing facilities like a batting machine, so it wasn't entirely implausible.

However, if asked whether it was plausible to run into a classmate by chance, it would seem a bit suspicious.

"...Are you close?"

"Just happened to run into her and thought we might play tennis together, that's all."

"We are in the same class, after all."

It wasn't a proper answer, but since he had no intention of answering, this was fine.

Sei seemed to have sensed that Yuzuki didn't want to answer and didn't say anything more.

Now it was Yuzuki's turn to ask.

"What about you and Nagi-san?"

"We also just happened to run into each other here. Isn't that right, Nagi?"

"We were playing tennis until just now. We were thinking of going bowling now."

Sei and Tenka said this, going along with Yuzuki and Aria's lie.

Ah, this is a lie, Yuzuki thought.

It was definitely a date, but he didn't pry further.

...The important thing was that they had confirmed their mutual desire to keep this a secret.

"Got it. ...I'd appreciate it if you kept this to yourselves. I don't like the attention."

"Understood. ...The same goes for us."

Yuzuki and Sei agreed to keep this a secret.

After seeing Sei and Tenka off, Yuzuki turned to Aria.

She furrowed her well-defined brows and asked Yuzuki.

"Are you okay?"

"That guy is pretty tight-lipped, so it should be fine. ...If he says anything, we can spread the word that Ryosenji and Nagi are an item. Of course, they wouldn't want that, so I think they won't say anything about us."

"I hope so."

It was understandable that Aria was worried.

She didn't know Sei's character. He probably just seemed like a playboy to her.

Yuzuki (and Aria) also didn't know Tenka's character.

She appeared to be a gentle and refined lady, but who knew what she was really like.

According to Sei, she was "a demon-like woman," but...

(But does she really go on dates with a demon?)

He didn't really want to think about it, but it might be like a second-grader saying something bad about a girl he liked.

If that was the case, it would be hilarious, and Yuzuki thought he might tease her about it someday.

"Are those two dating?"

"Who knows... but even if they're not a couple, they probably have some feelings for each other. Otherwise, they wouldn't have come here alone together."

After saying that, Yuzuki realized it was a double-edged sword.

"High school student, are you waiting for me to call you out?"

As expected, Aria noticed and said it with a slightly exasperated tone, looking at Yuzuki with a cold eye.

"...We're in a different situation. We have to act like a couple."

He scratched his cheek and said it as if it were an excuse.

It was natural to go on a date to report to their parents that they had been on a proper date, but normally, people didn't go on dates unless they had some feelings for each other.

"Let's play tennis."

"Sure."

Feeling a slight awkwardness, the two of them quickly changed the subject and started playing tennis.

---

"Initially, there were some troubles, but it was fun."

On the way back.

While escorting Aria home, Yuzuki muttered this.

Aria nodded in agreement.

"Yes. By the way, you're quite athletic, Takanase-kun."

"You too. You were pretty good, considering you only played a little in PE."

At first, they were just rallying, but after realizing they were both decent at tennis, they played a couple of matches.

Yuzuki, who had better strength and stamina, won the matches, but Aria put up a good fight.

In terms of ability, excluding the physical differences, they were about even, or perhaps Aria was slightly better.

"Next time, I'd like to try other games. ...Can we play bowling or darts too?"

"Sure, we can. Let's come again if we have the chance."

They naturally made plans to play again.

Yuzuki looked at Aria's profile as she walked next to him.

The sunset made her flaxen hair shine like gold and illuminated her beautiful face.

Her expression was natural and soft, different from the artificial and inorganic one she showed at school, an expression she only showed in front of Yuzuki.

"What is it?"

"I'm glad we ended up in this relationship. ...The arranged meeting was a hassle, but I'm really glad I met you."

Yuzuki said this with a heartfelt sigh, and Aria nodded slightly.

"Me too. I'm really glad I got to know Takanase-kun. I wouldn't go to places like that alone."

She smiled slightly.

Yuzuki's heart skipped a beat for a moment.

He almost felt like he was falling in love, like he was starting to like her.

(...But it's probably just my imagination.)

However, when he looked at Aria's face again, he didn't feel any such emotions.

He just thought she was beautiful, like a work of art or a flower.

He felt a bit relieved by this.

---

While they were talking, they reached near Aria's house.

Feeling a bit reluctant to part, Yuzuki was about to say goodbye to Aria.

But then,

"Yukishiro-san! ...H-Hi, it's been a while."

A boy who looked about the same age as them approached.

Yuzuki searched his mental database of people but couldn't find a match.

He concluded the boy was probably from a different high school.

"Kobayashi-kun. It's been a while."

"Do you know him?"

"He was a classmate in middle school."

Aria's expression was... the usual mask-like one she showed at school.

Of course, she was hard to read, so only someone as close as Yuzuki could tell the difference.

"Meeting you here is quite a coincidence. ...How's high school?"

"It's fun. How about you, Kobayashi-kun?"

She smiled brightly.

The usual fake smile.

Yuzuki realized again how many men this sudden smile from her mask-like face had misled.

"I'm doing okay. Uh, who's that guy?"

Kobayashi turned his gaze to Yuzuki.

Yuzuki somehow sensed jealousy or hostility in his eyes.

"I'm Takanase, a classmate of Yukishiro. Nice to meet you, Kobayashi-kun."

Yuzuki stepped forward and smiled politely, responding to Kobayashi.

He flinched slightly.

"A-Ah... nice to meet you."

Then he fell silent.

Aria, who knew Kobayashi, also looked at Yuzuki as if to ask, "What should we do?"

Of course, since Yuzuki and Kobayashi had no connection, and Aria and Kobayashi had fallen silent, the conversation was over.

Unable to bear the awkward silence, Kobayashi suddenly spoke up.

"Right, I have to go. See you later, Yukishiro-san."

He ran off into the sunset.

Yuzuki pointed at his retreating figure and asked Aria.

"Does he like you...?"

"I know without you saying it."

Then Aria sighed deeply.

She looked very tired.

"It would be easier if he just confessed and I could tell him I don't like him."

"Well... you can't just suddenly tell someone you don't like them if they haven't said anything."

To be constantly hinted at by a boy she didn't like.

Being a beautiful girl must be tough, Yuzuki thought, feeling a bit of sympathy for her.

He also sent condolences to Kobayashi, who was already destined to be heartbroken.

---

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Next title: 'The "Fiancée" and the Summer Vacation'

Summer is full of events in romance stories, so stay tuned.

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Dere Level: 68%

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