Feelings

In Akio and Chiharu's school, they run a special program for graduating students where everyone will be given practice papers for various subjects to do every Wednesday, and they'll have to stay back after curriculum time and complete whichever paper that was given in 2 hours.

Akio heads to the library during these sessions with a female classmate, Mami. Akio has recently become acquainted with her due to having seats that are assigned next to each other, and she can grasp the concepts being taught in class relatively well. She is a bespectacled girl who is modest looking, and she is really easygoing as well, which is the main purpose why Akio decided to invite her along with him: Finding someone who is smart and having them to allow him to copy their answers.

Akio usually heads home after school with Chiharu, but not on Wednesdays. Even after she told him that she wouldn't mind studying silently beside him in the library in order to wait for him to be done with his work, he refused and told her that she shouldn't wait for him and she should go home early to rest. Of course, Akio only has Chiharu on his mind and the reason why he didn't want her to follow him to the library was that he's afraid of her getting ideas about him being interested in Mami. Chiharu would understand everything if he just told her, but of course, someone as silly as Akio would always over-complicate things.

Naturally, Akio's insistence in wanting her to go home early aroused Chiharu's curiosity, and she decided to stick around to see what Akio's up to.

And as if the world has a flow-on effect that followed Akio's ridiculous logic of wanting to hide the fact he's with Mami from Chiharu, the moment Chiharu walked into the library, she witnessed Mami struggling to get a book and Akio helping her to get it, then the two of them sharing a laugh. She then watches them go back to their seats, Akio looking over her shoulder while she talks about what Chiharu presumes to be steps on how to solve the questions.

"I-is this idiot cheating on me...!? But I can't say that, we're not even an official couple or anything..!" Chiharu's cheeks flush red as she clasps her face with her hands.

She then decides that she has to know what they're talking about, and closes in further while keeping herself out of view. All sorts of emotions are overwhelming her mind, from fear to anger thinking about what if Akio actually doesn't like her at all.

"...An reaction is exothermic when.."
'It sounds like she's just genuinely trying to teach him,' Chiharu thought to herself and let out a sigh of relief.

"Mami-chan~ Let's ignore this whateverthermic for now! I have something important to ask you!" Akio spoke loudly, disregarding the rules of the library to always be graceful with noise levels. His lack of consideration garners him quite a few annoyed stares from the nearby students.
Chiharu facepalms as a natural reaction, but she recovers from her second-hand embarrassment almost instantly and shook her head with fervour.
"Is this idiot trying to flirt with her!?!?"
Chiharu thinks to herself as she starts to feel her heart sink. She thought that Akio likes her even though they have never really established their relationship, and he was never a player despite how his personality is like.
She looks at the two of them, their voices clearly audible.
Mami nods her head and Akio puts on a serious expression that almost made Chiharu laugh out loud.
"So.. how do I put this? I'm confiding in you since you're a girl and I want a girl's perspective on this. I'm madly in love with a girl. I think you've seen me with her. The underclassman I'm always around during breaks and after school. I'm kinda aware that she likes me too, and I want to confess to her so badly and let her know how much I love her. But every time I try to be honest, it's like my brain just shuts down. I start to tease her endlessly to hide my embarrassment, and it also seems like she has difficulties being honest herself too.."
Chiharu has heard enough. A small smile forms on her face, and she gets up from her hiding spot and leaves. Joy overwhelms her, and she feels really bad for even doubting their relationship for one second. Her face's all red again, and she really wants to hide.
"Geez, why does he always make me blush so much..!"
Chiharu then pulls out her phone and texts him.
"Meet me at the school rooftop once you're done studying. I'll be honest with you so be honest with me too!"
It took her a lot of courage to press the send button, and she took off for the rooftop, her face too red for anyone to see.

Meanwhile, Akio reads her text message and almost leaps out of his seat, his face beet red too.
"What's wrong? You were telling me halfway about the girl and.."
"It's nothing! See you around, Mami!" Akio gathers his things and dashes straight for the rooftop despite Chiharu telling him to only go after he was done studying.
"She was in the library and she heard me..!?!?!?"
Akio continues hurridly through the school, in response to Chiharu's bold move. Will their relationship change?