CHAPTER-10: WHY AM I BOTHERED!?

「Hm? Where did Kuro go?

Ah, Anna-chan, did you see Kuro around the courtyard?」said Hayami

「Yamagi-kun? No, I didn't see him?」 said Anna (Anna, one of Kuro's classmates who was dating the manager of the brass band. [mentioned in chapter-01])

「I was thinking of eating lunch with him, but at this rate, the lunch break will be over before I find him.」said Hayami

「See, even senpai says so.」said Anna

「By the way, Kiyoko-chan, if you haven't joined any clubs yet, how about ours?」said Anna

「Club?」said Hayami

「I see. Hayami-san is that transfer student, huh?」said Senpai

「Now that you mentioned it, I've never thought about it (I used to be on the volleyball team, but this school doesn't have one). If I remember right, Anna-chan's in-. Brass band」said Hayami

「You got it! The brass band here!」said Anna

「And, I'm the Club president.」said Senpai

「And, He's my boyfriend.」

「I can tell just by looking」said Hayami

.............

「 That ring's really cute.」said Hayami

「This? Thanks. It's called a fashion ring. We have matching rings, right, Senpai?」said Anna *grinning**Gulp*「Uh, yeah.」Senpai

「But Senpai, you're not wearing it.」said Anna

「It's in my bag, back in the classroom.」said Senpai

「What's the point of a matching ring if you don't wear it?」said Anna

「It might be standard for your class, but I'll be standing out in my class if I have one.」said Senpai

「Excuse mee~, can you pass the ball?」

「I got it~」said Anna

*sigh*

「Senpai, is something wrong?」 said Hayami

「Gh! Uh, actually-」

.............

* * ding dong * *

(I managed to get away from Kiyoko at lunch earlier.

Now, I just have to leave before Kiyoko invites me to walk home with her.

I'm not running away or anything. It's just that I haven't decided on how to face her yet-.)

「Kuro, see you tomorrow.」said Hayami

「Yeah, sure. Huh, wait-

......... Huh?」said Kuro * confused *

.............

(What the heck? Did she have plans today or something? Well, not that I care or anything.)

.....

(Huh!?

-If I remember right, that guy is from the brass band.)

* * Next Day * *

「........ Kiyoko.」

「 What is it?」

「Yesterday after the class, weren't you with the president of the brass band?」

「Huh? Well- 

It's none of your business, Kuro」*busted-face*

「Huh!?」*annoyed*

「Were you talking about Senpai?」said Anna

「Anna-chan」Hayami

「Senpai had work yesterday, so he didn't come to the club.」said Anna

「We passed each other on the way home. He asked me if I really won't join the brass band.」said Hayami

「Ah. We're open to new members anytime. As long as you're interested, even beginners are welcome!」said Anna

「HAHA.」Hayami

「............」Kuro

* * After Classes * * *

「I'll be going home now.」said Hayami

「Sure.」Yuri「

Byebye~」Nanami

「Kiyoko-san. She didn't invite Kuro today.」said Ino

「Kuro still hasn't replied to her confession yet, so maybe she gave up on him already.」said Souta

「.........」Kuro

..............

(Kiyoko leaving me alone is much easier on me anyway. Well, I don't mind it at all.

Wait, I don't mind, don't I?) *sigh*

「Huh? .............」

....... Convenience Store ...........

(What are they shopping for?)

....... Book Store .............

(??)

....... Police Station ...............

(!?!?!? Wait, why am I sneaking around like this!?) *embarrassed*

(........... Let's go home?)

.............

「I something wrong, Senpai?」said Hayami

「No, it's nothing.」

* * Next Day * *

「Huh?

Kuro, You're going to eat your lunch in class today?」said Hayami

「I'm free to eat wherever I want, right?」said Kuro

「Well, yeah. Then I'm free to eat here too, right?」said Hayami

「-I guess.」Kuro

「Great. Thanks for the food.」Hayami

「Hayami-san.」said Senpai

(Mhmngh!!) {Kuro}

「Senpai. Don't tell me-」said Hayami

「Yup. I got a call from the station's lost and found.」said Senpai

「?? What is it? What's going on?」said Anna

(My thoughts exactly.) {Kuro}

「Ah, um-」Hayami

「Sorry. Yoshino, I should have told you about this, but-」said Senpai

....................

「You lost your ring!?」said Anna

「Yeah, Hayami-san helped me look for it.」said Senpai

「I don't have a job and I'm not in any clubs, so I had a lot of free time-」said Hayami

「-Why didn't you tell me?」said Anna

「I thought you'd get mad.」 said Senpai

「OF COURSE, I'D GET MAD! -I get mad, but-. The fat that you don't tell me about hurts me more.」said Anna

「-Sorry... Let's go pick it up from the station together.」said Senpai

「Okay.」Anna

(It's hard to eat lunch in this atmosphere.) {Kuro}

「Sorry for getting you involved Hayami-san. I'm grateful.」said Senpai

「Not at all. Don't mind it, Please.」said Hayami

「Ah, also-」Senpai

(Uh)*avert* {Kuro}

「Senpai?」Anna

「-Nah, It's noyhing.」Senpai

.........

「Yamagi-kun.」Senpai

「? What is it?」

「I thought I should apologize to you, too. Sorry for borrowing your girlfriend yesterday.」

「Girlfriend?」

「? Hayami-san, right?」

*red-face*「!! She's ain't my-. She's not my girlfriend, so I'm not really-」

「Really? You were glaring at me while you followed us yesterday, so I thought you were Hayami-san's boyfriend.」

(He noticed me-)

「Huh, if you aren't dating Hayami-san, then I think you have no right to complain if she's with another guy.」

(HUH!?)

「Yeah, my thoughts exactly.」*confused*

* * * * * *