CHAPTER-03: SIGN OF SYNCHRONICITY

~Boys locker room~

「How did this happen..?」

「We haven't even had a proper conversation yet...」 said Kuro

「You mean Hayami-san?」 said Souta

「You haven't apologized to her yet? Man up!」said Ino

(Why do I have to apologize in the first place? You all are the ones who make the racket to date Hayami-san.)

「It's all because you guys kept yapping on about dating that transfer student!」said Kuro

「You couldn've just take the joke lightly and let it pass.」said Ino

「Because of what you said, things got complicated. SERVES YOU RIGHT.」said Souta

( * Emotional damage * )

........

~Girls locker room ~

「Kiyoko-chan, are you still bothered about what Yamagi-kun said to you?」 said Nanami

「I'm not bothered about it, but...」

「I don't know what I should talk to him about, And it's hard to strike up a conversation in the classroom...」said Hayami * concerned *

「You two have been the center of attention since then~」said Nanami

(Well, It,s because you guys began the racket to date Yamagi-san)

「Let's stop talking about Yamagi-san. Anyway, I was thinking of going to __________ this Sunday.」said Hayami

「__________?」said Nanami

「I just moved here, so I thought I should explore the town.」said Hayami

「If you want to go shopping, there are lots of shops near the station.」

「I'd show you around, but I have plans this Sunday..」 said Nanami

「Me too.... I'll be busy during the weekends.」

「Sorry.」 said Yuri

「It's okay. I was planning on going by myself anyway.」said Hayami

「By the way, Kiyoko-chan, do you like sweets?」 said Nanami

「Yeah, I do.」

「There is a store we always go to, Right Yuri-chan?」

「Ah, that's right.」

「On Sunday... Yeah, he should be there.」

「If you want why don't you go there?」

「? Okay.」

* * SUNDAY * *

(.......)

(Past the convenience store on the corner of the main road...)

(where... ?){Hayami}

「AH!」

「Is that it?」said Hayami

「Welcome~」

「Please take a seat~」

「Once you've decided on your order, please call me~」

「Thank you~(What should I order~?)」

「HUH!?」

「Yamagi-san!?」

「Ugh! Transfer student...」

「Why are you here, Yamagi-san?」

「Why...?」

「This is my family's store (Look), so I work here.」

「HUH?」

(I see...){Hayami}

「You mean you came here without knowing that?」

「Kuro!」

「Don't flirt with the customer just because she's cute.」said Onii-san

「I'M NOT」said Kuro * blushing *

「Um..」

「Is it your first time here?」

「I don't think I have seen you before.」said Oni-san

「She transferred into my class the other day. Her name's Hayami.」said Kuro

「I'm Hayami Kiyoko. Nice to meet you.」said Hayami

「Kuro's friend, huh?」

「uh.. she's not exactly...」

「A friend...」said Kuro

「......」

「Aah! your girlfriend? (I don't know you had it in you, Kuro~).」said Onii-san

「I'm not!」「she's not!」said Hayami and Kuro * blushingly *

「Then what?」

.....

「Dating her just to make do? Kuro, you're an idiot~,」

「Of course, Kiyoko-chan will get mad!」said Onii-san

「I am not mad anymore, though...」 said Hayami

「... I know I put it the wrong way.」

「...So, about that, I'm sor...」

「Excuse me! Could I have another cup of tea?」said the customer

「Right away!!」said Kuro

「Kuro's not a bad guy. As you see, the customers love him.」said Onii-san

「I... already know that.」said Hayami

「Well, I do think he's an idiot.」

「If the people around me told me to date a cute girl like you, then the first meeting or not, I'd have tried to woo you with all I've got and date you.」said Onii-san

「...Do you mean, Dating even though you don't love the girl?」

「I guess so.」

「So, Kiyoko-chan, you don't have a boyfriend, Right?」said Onii-san

「Yes.」

「Then fought about Kuro, and get along with this charming and handsome Onii-san right in front of you?」said Onii-san

「HUH!?」

「Who's this charming and handsome Onii-san? Stop being an idiot.」

「Aneki will get mad at you.」said Kuro

「 It's fine Emi-chan went out for today~」 said Onii-san

「Hoho~, so if the wife is away, then infidelity is allowed.」said Aneki * angrily *

「Of course not. There's no way such an act would be forgiven.」said Onii-san * sweating *

「Welcome back Emi-chan~」

「Kiichi, I told you not to lay hands on our customers!」said Aneki

「I couldn't bring myself to overlook my dear brother-in-law's sins~」said Onii-san

「You mean Kuro?」

「And I told you not to call me Emi-chan in front of others!」said Aneki * embarrassingly *

「Um..?」

「Yamagi Emi, my older sister.」

「She's the second generation boss of the store and got married to the manager, Kiichi, three months ago.」said Kuro

(Wait, now that I think about it....)

(I'm surrounded by couples in here, too!? ALL other part-timers are married too...){Kuro}

「I'm sorry for my brother's rudeness.」said Aneki

「It's nothing really.」said Hayami

.......

「Is it really alright for me not to pay?」 said Hayami

「Don't worry about it. These boys caused you trouble anyways.」said Aneki

「The food was delicious. Thank you very much.」said Hayami

「Don't be shy and come again soon」said Aneki

「Aneki. Kiichi's calling for you.」said Kuro

「I told you to call us boss and manager when inside the store, remember」

「See you later, Kiyoko-chan」said Aneki

「.......」

「So-」「Um..」said Kuro and Hayami

「...What?」said Kuro

「...You go first.」said Hayami

「No, you go fir... No. I'll say it.」

「Sorry about before. I didn't mean to say anything bad about you...」said Kuro

「Yeah, I know. I said some mean things, too.」

「I'm sorry.」 said Hayami

「Okay.」said Kuro

「I'm glad I came here today.」

「See you tomorrow, Yamagi-kun.」 said Hayami

「.....」*blushing*

* * * *

「Yamagi-kun, here's your hand-out.」said Hayami

「O-Okay. Thanks.」said Kuro

「You've already made up?」

「 What happened during the weekend?」asked Souta and Ino

「Nothing...」said Kuro

「Hey Kuro, I heard~ that Hayami-san went to your tea shop yesterday.」said classmate1

「A date?」「Hoho~ In detail, please」Said Souta and Ino

「It's not what you think!」

「There's no way I'd go on a date with this transfer student...」 said Kuro

「You know, you could have simply said "That's not it". Why do you have to go and say that kind of stuff?」

「I think that part of you is not good at all!」said Hayami

「I'm really sorry. I'll be careful next time...」said Kuro

* * * *