Chapter 5

When class ended and it was after school, Yuki left the classroom alone and headed to the library.

He took out the borrowed book from his bag and returned it to the reception counter. It was the book that Yui had found this morning.

Unfortunately, his eyes met those of a female teacher nearby,

"Ah, how was it?"

"Well, it was difficult."

"Hmm. I see."

She smiled at him with a seemingly amused expression.

He didn't say, "It was incomprehensible and boring."

For some reason, she seemed to take a liking to him. She had even talked to him when he borrowed the book.

If she started recommending strange books again, he would have to leave the library quickly, so he hurried out and headed straight to the entrance.

"Huh? It's Nago-kun."

As he was about to open his shoe locker to take out his shoes, he was suddenly called from the side.

Turning around, he saw Yui raising her hand and approaching.

"Leaving now?"

"Yeah, but—"

Yui smiled lightly, passed by him, and started changing her shoes.

Yuki, who had already closed his locker, walked past Yui and went outside.

The weather had been unstable since the morning, and the sky looked like it was about to rain.

He stopped and looked up at the sky,

"Ah, it looks like it's going to rain."

Yui, who had caught up to him, stood next to him and looked up at the sky, saying the same thing.

He hadn't expected her to talk to him again and was a bit startled as he looked at Yui.

"Do you walk home? Where do you live?"

"At the end of Nakamachi Street."

Yuki usually walks from his house to school.

He used to ride a bicycle, but after dozing off while riding and crashing into a ditch by the road, he had switched to walking.

However, his house wasn't that far from the school. He had chosen this school because it was close. If he walked briskly, it would take about thirty minutes one way.

"Wow, really? I'm walking to the station today, so how about we go together for a bit?"

Yuki was momentarily taken aback by Yui's offer.

He could understand if it was just in the classroom, but even for a "seat-mate killer," this seemed a bit much.

It might have been a coincidence, but he didn't see the point in inviting him.

However, he had no reason to refuse, so he ended up walking home with her.

"We barely talked until this morning, it's kind of strange, isn't it?"

As they walked down the road after leaving the school gate, Yui continued to smile and chat beside him.

There were no longer any classmates or other students in school uniforms around, so it seemed unlikely that she was trying to appear friendly to avoid being seen.

"Yeah," he replied, but nothing more followed.

This was his first time walking home alone with a girl, and he wasn't sure how to handle it. Yuki was naturally this way.

After a while of silence, Yui, seemingly losing patience, looked at him intently from the side,

"Hey, can you talk a bit?"

"About what?"

"Anything. Something interesting."

This was a tough request.

He thought about brushing her off with a comment like, "I'm not a comedian," but decided to try to tell a normal, somewhat interesting story.

"Um, about the book I read today—"

"Uh-huh."

"It reminded me of a superhuman Kiiro Kinnikuman."

"Sorry, I don't understand at all."

Despite her saying anything would do, she cut him off.

Well, even professionals find it hard to tell a funny story, and it's even harder for amateurs, let alone ordinary people.

Yuki was satisfied with his effort, but Yui started talking on her own without being asked.

"I usually ride a bike to the station, but I walk when it rains. The end of Nakamachi Street is quite a distance on foot, isn't it? By the way, Nago-kun, do you have an umbrella? A folding one?"

"I forgot to bring one today. If it rains, I'll deal with it then. At worst, I'll just get wet."

He could buy one at a nearby convenience store, but he didn't want to waste money.

Yui held her plastic umbrella like a bamboo sword,

"Hmm... If it starts raining, do you want to share mine?"

She tilted her head and looked at Yuki.

Caught off guard by her sudden offer, he was unsure how to respond, and Yui let out a satisfied sigh.

"It's to return the favor from lunch."

"Huh?"

"Halfway."

"Huh?"

Before he could process what she was saying, it started drizzling.

"Ah, it's really starting to rain," Yui said, opening her umbrella and glancing at him.

"Say, 'Let me in.'"

"No, it's fine."

"Then I won't let you in."

Yui exaggeratedly pouted and leaned in, then deliberately took a few steps back.

The rain had just started, and it wasn't very heavy.

Thinking they should hurry a bit, he tried to quicken his pace, but suddenly the rain stopped hitting his body.

Yui had moved closer and was holding the umbrella handle up,

"It would be easier if Nago-kun held it."

There was about a fist's difference in shoulder height between Yuki and Yui. Her head was roughly at the level of Yuki's mouth.

Yui glanced up and down Yuki from his feet to his head,

"You have a pretty good figure, don't you?"

"Is that a compliment or an insult?"

She herself had an excellent figure.

Yuki's height was 174 cm from the last physical measurement, so Yui was probably around 160 cm.

Judging from the position of her waist, she must have long legs. Her arms holding the umbrella were also slender and long.

He had heard from Keitaro that the line from her waist to her hips was very sexy.

Thinking of Keitaro, if he were to see them sharing an umbrella like this, he would probably make some comments.

Since all the boys were interested in her, Yuki felt a bit uneasy and stepped out from under the umbrella.

"Why are you running away?"

"It's not raining that much."

"Not raining... Ah, I get it. You're embarrassed~"

Yui grinned and pointed at him, looking very pleased.

However, when he stepped out from under the umbrella, the rain had almost completely stopped.

"It's not raining, so—"

Yui tilted the umbrella slightly and showed her palm,

"It's stopped!"

She leaned back dramatically.

Yuki, who didn't say anything, watched her, and Yui, with a slightly red face, folded the umbrella and cleared her throat.

"Wasn't that funny?"

"It was... I think. Probably."

"Then let's laugh. Even if it's not funny, let's laugh. It makes me really uncomfortable. A polite laugh is important, you know? Nago-kun doesn't laugh much, does he?"

"No, I just have a thin reaction. I laugh inside."

"Is that a thin reaction or something? Laughing inside, isn't that just being condescending?"

"No, not at all."

"Then laugh now. Show me a smile."

Yui, with a serious face, leaned in closer.

Yuki was a bit exasperated by this.

Why was she so insistent? Why was she so persistent with him?

He had always felt a bit off, but suddenly a thought came to him.

"Hey, I... I read a lot of mystery and detective novels."

"Uh-huh."

"I'm good at deducing the thoughts and schemes of the culprit. I have a bit of confidence in that."

"Wow, wow. So what? Why suddenly?"

"Let me guess what you're thinking right now."

"Huh? Me? Wow, that sounds interesting. Go ahead."

Yui became very interested.

It was the first time Yuki had taken the initiative to talk, so she seemed a bit surprised.

Looking at Yui, who was eagerly waiting with bright eyes, Yuki confidently said,

"Frankly... You're playing a game to make the guy next to you fall in love with you."