(V3) Chapter 6: Unaware, Unarmed, Unready

Today was another loud morning in Class 3-2 in Komorebi High. The final exams are within weeks and the students don't seem to care much.

The talk of the club is the much closer field trip, where the school is about to visit a beach at the eastern corners of the country.

"That's right!" Akito spun his chair around and faced Ayase and Haru. "Have you decided what to wear on the field trip?" he asked with excitement.

Haru immediately contemplated, but Ayase seemed to be too lost in it.

"Well," Haru exhaled, "whatever comfortable will do."

"How about Ayase-chan?" Saori also turned around and leaned in, eyes lighting up with enthusiasm. "I heard they have the prettiest beaches on the east coast, and we'll be the only ones in it!" .

Ayase didn't respond and instead turned to Haru for clarifications.

Right, Ayase haven't been on a field trip—and haven't been on a beach either. She only saw it in the pictures of landmarks and flyers of city advertisements.

Haru is sure that Ayase would enjoy such a moment, but Saori was right. What clothing does Ayase prefer?

He himself wasn't sure about women's fashion, and what he bought Ayase before was just a reference to a women's magazine he stumbled upon before.

Haru knew that she had more choices than he did, considering the fact that all his clothes were hand chosen, so he thought about what he'd get for her, but he couldn't imagine any outfit being suitable for Ayase.

But it's not like he could ask Ayase. What she wore back then and now wasn't an issue at all because everything seemed to fit her. But clothing that fits and clothing that suits are two different topics.

"That hits me," Haru finally mumbled out of his trance. "You're great at women's fashion, right? Why don't the two of you drop by the mall and look for things that will match her style?"

Saori blinked in surprise at first, but after a brief second, nodded vigorously in agreement. "Did you just say that the two of us will hang out together?! Then I'm in!" she exclaimed, fists curled up in excitement.

"What 'two of us'?" Akito cuts in. "I'm going with you! I have to look for my swimwear too!" he chirped.

Outdoor clothes.

Swimming clothes.

Haru recalled that his cabinet was mostly filled with lifeless black sweaters and jackets, a reflection of his poor taste in fashion. The thought of dressing up tugged harshly, and just for once, he considered buying new things for himself.

“Alright, I'll join in. Let's separate into two groups.”

The plan was set smoothly and everyone agreed to meet at the mall after school.

But the thoughts of the mall hangout and swimming in the beach paradise was struck by a thud of a thick sheet of paper that landed on the desk.

BAM!

"Surprise quiz," the teacher, Kamizaki-sensei, announced, adjusting his glasses.

A collective "huh" comes out of the classroom. They knew that Kamizaki-sensei was supposed to just lecture today.

But his air of dominance put the classroom on his grasp, preventing further questioning.

"30 minutes," he declared.

The answer sheets landed on Haru's desk in no time, the words blurring together.

"GRAMMAR QUIZ: TOTAL ITEMS: 20"

"Shit," he groaned. "You're kidding me."

He hadn’t reviewed it. He hadn’t even thought about English grammar since last week.

Beside him, Ayase already had a pen in hand, her face unbothered. He glanced around—most of the class groaned, but a few nerds like Akito and Saori were already scribbling confidently. Meanwhile, Haru had nothing. No plan. No hope.

Ayase seemed to sense his despair because, without even looking up, she whispered, "Ishida-san, I will help you!"

Haru’s heart skipped.

"What?"

But before he could react, Ayase tilted her paper at just the right angle. A calculated move. A Sentinel’s move. She was letting him see her answers.

"Ayase, you angel."

"Thank you for the compliment, Ishida-san." she whispered softly.

Feeling like he just got saved from execution, Haru immediately began copying, careful not to look too suspicious. He matched her answers exactly. If Ayase was confident, that meant she was right. After all, she had perfect memory. A Sentinel’s recall. An unshakable mental archive.

"Hah. Easy. This is why I trust her."

With a final smirk of satisfaction, Haru handed in his paper, feeling unusually proud. They had pulled it off.

Until—

"Alright, class. Let's go over the answers."

Kamizaki-sensei turned to the blackboard, writing the first sentence.

"Identify the incorrect grammar."

Wait.

Wait.

WAIT.

Haru’s blood turned cold.

"Number one," Kamizaki-sensei continued. "'She don't like apples.' What's wrong here?"

Takamine immediately raised her hand. "It should be 'She doesn’t like apples.'"

"Correct."

Haru’s stomach twisted.

He frantically looked at Ayase.

She blinked back.

Neither of them had changed the answer.

"Oh no."

He felt sweat forming as the teacher went down the list.

Every. Single. Question.

Wrong.

Because the correct answers weren't about choosing what was right. They had to find the mistake.

And they had copied everything exactly as it was written.

By the time Kamizaki-sensei reached the final answer, Haru was already slumped in his seat.

"Alright, let’s see how everyone did…" The teacher scanned the class. Then paused.

"Two students got a zero." he hissed, adjusting his glasses.

The room went silent.

Ayase and Haru slowly looked at each other.

Kamizaki-sensei held up two identical papers.

"Care to explain?"

Haru’s soul left his body again. Ayase, for once, did not have an answer.

She had remembered everything perfectly. But too bad, she proceeded without reading the instructions.

And thus, they both failed.

At the mall, Haru groaned, burying his face in his bag. "This is the dumbest thing that has ever happened to me."

The chuckles of Akito and Saori in their backs echoed in the mall.

Ayase nudged her face on Haru's shoulder, weeping. "I'm sorry, Ishida-san! I didn’t expect that!"

"You didn’t expect that?" Haru complained, but still intoned gently. "They read instructions first in the United States! You're a human dictionary! How did you not notice?"

Ayase’s lips pressed together.

Then, in a small voice, she muttered, "I just thought we needed to spot the right grammars and not the wrong ones…"

Haru choked, and the two behind them fell again in another loud giggle.

"I trusted you!" Haru exclaimed

She puffed her cheeks. "I trusted myself too!"

And for the first time in her perfectly imperfect record, Ayase had failed. And Haru? He had never felt so betrayed.

Or so stupid.

They promised each other that they will try to blend in the school environment, but this was clearly unintentional. It was a genuine disaster.

"Hey hey," Akito cuts in. "At least her penmanship is like a computer's print."

"And getting zero on tests is perfectly normal!" Saori follows up. "It will never, ever define you and degrade our friendship. You're still Ayase-chan and Haruki of the loser's club!"

After the two calmed down, the four of them shared a laughing fit.

Later, the group visited the women's clothing booth. It was huge, full of bright colors and flashy items from basic to luxury brands.

There was a DART security guard standing on the entrance, and a pair of sales ladies were LUNAs.

Haru felt a wave of embarrassment hit him straight on in the head. He didn’t know anything about women's fashion or anything related. But seeing Saori drag Ayase corner to corner, he and Akito have no choice but to follow through.

"Hey look," Akito mumbled, pointing at the red dress hanging behind a glass cover. "That's what the famous Nagase Haruka wore on her 18th birthday! Bucci made it, and that was an amazing luxury brand!"

I wonder who that girl was, but displaying somebody's worn dress shows her significance in society.

"That was already 13 years ago, and it costs a lot now."

Curiosity gnawed at Haru, making him ask, "How much?"

Akito wears a smug face, stating "200 million yen."

Haru frowned in disgust. "People pay that much money for something so plain?"

Akito lets out a hearty laugh. Before he could reply—a voice cut through their conversation.

"What's your cup size, Ayase?"

It was Saori.

Haru immediately gulped, repeating what Saori said in his head.

They walk towards where they are and Haru clears his throat.

"Should we excuse ourselves for now?"

But when his eyes landed on Ayase, she was already holding up a white bra pressed against her uniform. They stared at each other for a moment, with Ayase carrying innocent eyes.

Haru immediately spun around, feeling the blood ooze from his nose.

“Uh…I’m leaving…”

But before he could make a clean escape from the sticky situation, Ayase grabbed Haru's sleeve.

Haru paled as he froze on the spot.

"Ishida-san...don't leave..."

It wasn't as playful as Saori's tone. It was slow and plaintive.

And pleading.

Haru knew better.

The memories of Allain's stalking in the mall resurfaced, and it's clear that Ayase demanded protection from him.

His resistance loosened, "Okay." he answered. "I won't leave."

He gulped and turned around, and casted a reassuring smile back at Ayase.

"Oh?" Akito huffed. "I really thought I'm pulling away with you, buddy. Let me excuse myself then!"

Akito waves his hand, and proceeds to the toy collection store next to the booth.

"Are you okay, Haru?" Saori asked. "You would really like to help us."

Saori's tone with ‘help’ had a teasing lilt, making Haru flinch.

"I'll follow you two with eyes closed." he simply answered.

What was he supposed to do? Rate dresses? Judge fabrics? He didn’t know anything about women’s fashion at all.

As far as he knew, he just let Ayase buy underwears on her own the last time they visited a mall.

"Aw, don’t be shy, Haruki!" Saori teased, nudging him with an elbow. "You’re practically her caretaker at this point. You should at least help her pick something nice~!"

"Why is this my life..." he mumbled to himself.

A few moments pass and Haru finds himself in a colorful sea of women lingeries that left him in a mix of confusion and discomfort. The two girls ran around like wild boars, a stark contrast to the complete wallflower before them.

"How about this, Haru?" Saori muttered, a blue bikini set dangling from her hands.

Seeing this, Haru pressed a hand against his nose. He barely had the time to process everything before his head short-circuited.

Saori then handed the lingerie to Ayase, and her cheeks flushed immediately.

"This is..." she trailed off, "too much."

Too much was the right remark for it. He can't imagine Ayase wearing something this revealing on the beach.

"But to get the boy you want, you have to be a killer!" Saori proclaimed gleefully.

A thoughtful glance flashed through Ayase's face.

"The boy I want?" she repeated, staring at the bikini. Saori immediately nodded feverishly.

When Ayase's eyes landed on Haru, a small smile tugged at her lips. "Then I think I can choose something more daring..."

"SOMETHING WHAT?"

Those were the words Haru managed to gasp out before almost collapsing on the spot.

When Ayase leaned on more showy bikinis, Haru stopped her.

"Wait!" he snapped, flailing his arms mid-air. "Hell no! I am not qualified for this decision!"

Saori landed into a wild chuckle, completely enjoying the chaos she played out.

"C’mon, Haru~ Just imagine Ayase wearing it and pick the one you like the most!"

The red-faced bedhead spun around, a complete contrast of his usually reserved character.

"I AM NOT DOING THAT."

Ayase stepped forward, "But I thought you'll help me pick..."

“I did, but…”

Something finally clicked in Haru after what Ayase and Saori just said.

Haru imagined the feeling of how these fabrics would look against Ayase's almost perfect skin.

But it was never the lingeries, he wasn't focused on it. He only thought of what was cute and modest that would suit Ayase.

He never wanted the sexiest. He wanted something gentle and beautiful.

Something away from extravagance and exaggeration.

He wanted something simple. Something that reflects hope and calm. Something that will look for him when he's lost.

Something that is Ayase.

"Is this what Saori was talking about?" he thought.

His feet moved on its own accord, bringing him to a section where a collection of not-so-revealing swimsuits were displayed with subtle accents.

His stomach still churned at the sight of them, but the images were clearer and better. And in the midst of it all, his imagination finally took control.

The two girls followed and stood by the corner watching the scene unfold. Haru looked completely immersed, but his mind seemed to focus on only one thing: what color would look best with Ayase.

Saori smiled happily, "Haru seems so serious now."

"Ishida-san always did." Ayase replied, trying to hide her smile. "And I'm glad that Ishida-san had friends that actually care about him."

Saori scoffed, and crossed her arms proudly. "Of course! Who else would take care of the poor guy? No one but the losers’ club is worthy enough to protect someone like Ishida Haruki!"

Ayase's face lit up. "Then thank you." she whispered gratefully.

They both stood there looking at Haru, as if watching how his fingers dance over the various shades of silks and threads.

Not long after, Haru returned with a white bikini with some accents on it that made it not revealing—soft white blazers, translucent hem that covered the abdomen and a short skirt that covered the lingerie beneath it.

"Here." He hands it over to Ayase. "This is the best I could ever think of."

Ayase's eyes widened slightly, and she gave him a soft yet appreciative smile.

"Ooh," Saori whistled. "You nailed this one, Haru! I can already see that this one would fit Ayase-chan well!"

"Can I have this, Saori-chan?" Ayase questioned.

"Mhm!" she nodded cheerfully, as if she had won a lottery.

"You seem more excited than Ayase herself." Haru remarked, rubbing the back of his head.

"OF COURSE I AM!" Saori exclaimed, clinging onto Ayase's shoulder.

"This is pretty." Ayase muttered, staring at the lingerie. "Thank you so much, Ishida-san."

She clutched the fabric gently, as if it were more than just clothing. As if it were a memory waiting to be made.

Saori gave a thumbs-up, and Akito returned carrying paper bags and a knowing grin.

Haru knew at this point that it wasn’t just about bikinis. Or quizzes. Or field trips.

It was about people finding each other—slowly, awkwardly but most of all, sincerely.

And maybe, falling a little deeper along the way.

***

After a short visit to the convenience store to buy strawberry parfaits, Ayase and Haru headed out, the sweet comfort of home in their minds.

A rollercoaster of emotions came today, but the best thing is that they managed to get their act together and make the hangout more meaningful.

The two were already close to the block where Haru's apartment sat when he noticed that some of the extra goods they bought were missing.

"I forgot to carry them after the cashier handed us our change," Ayase said with an apologetic tone. "I'm sorry, Ishida-san."

Haru smiled, "It's okay. That's just a couple bottles of water and soft drinks. Nothing serious."

"But..." Ayase trailed off, pressing her lips together. "Our situation is different now. Every penny you earn means something, especially that we have no other sources than your part time job. You have tuition to pay, electrical and water bills, rent and food to keep. I cannot waste all of that hard-earned money because of my carelessness."

Haru laughed nervously, feeling his face heat up at her worrying. "I'll manage somehow." He tried to reassure her. "And I can do most of it by myself. So you don't need to worry about that."

"Please, Ishida-san." she protested. "Don't let me make things any harder for you."

"You're not a burden." he simply replied. "If anything, I should be worried about you."

Ayase stood there motionless, tears starting to well up her eyes.

"But if you insist, then we'll get the groceries back. I don't want to see you crying just because we left something so insignificant at the convenience store."

"That's not insignificant!” she pouted. “If it costs your hard-earned money, then it's valuable. But thank you, Ishida-san."

As the two turned back around, Ayase bumps into a guy wearing black coat with tie and pants.

He slightly stumbled, and his frown was obvious atop his reading glasses.

"Watch where you're going!" he exclaimed right next to her face.

"Sorry about that!" She bowed and apologized sincerely. "Are you alright, sir?" Ayase tries to grab his arm but he swats it away, making Ayase gasp.

Meanwhile, Haru already fumed about how the scene played out, and was close to his boiling point.

"Can't you show her a little respect?!"

He stared down at him with sharp eyes.

But the guy didn't return the scowl. Instead, his glances remained glued on Ayase, as if confirming something on his head.

Ayase looks behind herself to see what had caught his attention.

"Where are you staring at, geezer?" Haru snaps at him.

Ignoring his presence, the man taps a device on his ear and radioes a few words to someone over there.

And without a warning, he lets out a surprise roundhouse kick that Haru didn't manage to block, sending him sprawling along the plastic bags of groceries on the floor.

He wasn't just a casual salaryman from the power of that kick. He was something more.

More than the mightiest Haru has faced before.

"What the—!" Haru exclaimed before realizing that Ayase was deeply in danger from the attack.

Ayase tried to scream, but the man was quick to cover her mouth with a handkerchief and easily lifted her from the ground and carried her away.

She trashed away, but the man's grip remained firm. Within seconds, Ayase fell unconscious.

He stands up, to fight back, to chase, but a couple of men wearing the same uniform stood his way with squared fists.

And no one with them was interested in holding back against a highschool student like him.

This scene played out before, but it wasn’t the same as the flower shop owner who set tables for negotiations.

This time meant no bailing, no talking and no waiting.

Only Haru’s fight for dear life and his duty to save the only woman that can save him.