Special Chapter: That Summer

Let's go back in time to when Akio and Chiharu were still in middle school. Many things were the same, just like how it was also Akio's graduation year. This chapter will be told in his perspective, a much more younger Akio.

"Yuuki, I'm sorry to say this but you better think more about your future. Look at your results. You didn't even pass a single subject. How are you supposed to sit for the high school entrance examinations?"
The teacher rambled on and on about my horrendous performance in the recent examinations. Geez, I know how badly I did. I don't need someone else to constantly remind me of my failures. Besides, I probably can do well if I try. But it's so damn boring.

Oh well, I'll just say something to get of the hook.

"Sensei, I promise I'll--"

He cuts me off before I can even finish my sentence.

"Yuuki Akio, no more excuses! The school will be holding summer classes for struggling students, and you're no exception! I'll be seeing you then!"

"But--"

"No buts! Now go home and reflect on yourself!"

Damn. I dragged my feet sheepily out of the classroom. I had so many plans with my friends... We were going on a trip to Kyoto too.. Now I'll probably have to be left out.

My summer vacation will officially turn into schooling time.

Sigh.. Really, why can't they just let me do what I want to do?

I don't even care about doing well all that much, so they should get off my case. It's my own life. Well, at least Chiharu's probably waiting for me at the front gate again, so that's something good for this crappy day.

Ayakouji Chiharu... she's an underclassman of mine, and I'm madly in love with her. Everything about her just makes my heart feels like it's melting. From how she always has one part at the back of her hair in a braid to the big ribbon she always wears on the top of her head, to how she always faintly smiles.. Everything about her is so precious. How she's always so easily flustered and serious, but actually has a silly side to her... How she always looks out for me despite being younger and how she treats everyone with kindness.. Ahhh, I can't handle it. This girl's too damn perfect for this world where evil like school exists.

All I can think of is Chiharu now. I don't want to bother myself with the stresses of reality.
I want to see her... I hasten my footsteps and pray to god she waited for me as usual.
And without a doubt, she was there, just like every other day. Her small stature against the tall gate of the school is a huge constrast, but that just goes to show how cute she is. She makes everything she wear look beautiful, too. Never would I have thought I would be staring at the frills of a school skirt and the ribbon on the uniform's top so intently. The uniform of the place I hate so much.
Her presence gives off a soothing and calm aura... She's looking off in a general direction with an uninterested look in her gaze, until she spots me.
A small smile forms on her face, which soon turns into blushing. Whenever she's red, it's really obvious. It shows on her ears and face and they literally turn red.

She marches towards me and pouts at me, another cute thing about her I love.
"You're staring at me again, Senpai! Are you doing that on purpose to tease me, waiting for me to spot you?"

"Hehe.. it's just that you're too beautiful, Chiharu-chan."

She almost jumped from where she was standing, a very comical action in real life.

"W-what are you talking about!?!?"
Her face grew even redder.

It's so fun to hang out with her and get reactions from her like this. Everything about her is really too cute.. Just goes to show how crazy I am about this girl.
Why would I even care about my studies when I get to be with her everyday?
She's all that matters, and I'll focus only on her.

Before I met her, other girls would lash out at me and avoid me like the plague due to my flirty nature. Man, and I was only trying to make friends...

But this girl, she's a weird one. She's the only one who showed a genuine interest in me. I still remember the day when we first met, when I was still a student council member... I sat in the meeting room bored just like any other normal day in the council, my eyelids droopy and about to shut tight. As I was about to fall asleep, I noticed this really cute girl walking into the room accompanied by our student council president. Her presence almost made my eyes pop from my socket; the first thing I noticed about her was how elegant she looked. A youthful face that is both beautiful and cute, complimented by her glossy and silky long hair. Her skin was fair and pure white, free of any blemishes. I could tell that she takes care of herself really well, as evidenced by how she had no loose strands in her hair and how well-maintained her hair looks. Her mannerisms were extremely girlish too, stabbing the love arrow further into my heart.

"Oi, Kyosuke! Who's this new girl?" I shouted across the room to the president.

"Didn't I tell you to not call me by my name during council time? Anyway, this is Ayakouji Chiharu of class 1-2. She'll be joining us today as a member of the student care team."

"I-I'll be in your care!" The cute girl bows to me.

"Likewise! Hey, lend me her for a bit. I'll show her around the areas that we're involved in! I'll see you later, Kyosuke!"

The president let out a huge sigh and allowed me to bring Chiharu along.

Everything just hit off really well from there on, and we became close quickly. I was made to quit the student council eventually because of my poor grades, but I didn't really care as I only joined because my childhood friend Kyosuke forced me to.

And that was how Chiharu came into my life.

As we walked home together, the topic of summer vacation came up, which made me feel really annoyed.
She talked to me about what her family was planning, and even suggested that my family accompany hers along their little trip.
Both our parents know each other well, since we're always together from the day we met, and visit each other's houses frequently which eventually led to our parents becoming accquainted.
As frustrating as it is and how much I don't want to bother Chiharu with this, I'll have to let her know.
"I won't be having a break over summer. My results suck too much, and I'll have to return to school to work on my subjects." I reluctantly broke the news to Chiharu, who showed her disappointment openly on her face.

"Geez! That's why the president's always on your case, telling you to study harder..."

"Forget about that guy, let's just go have some fun!"

"You're still in the mood to do that, huh.." Chiharu looks at me with a smug expression on her face.

Here comes one of the many moments where the usually easily flustered Chiharu shows her playful side.

"First, I get booted from the student council. Next, I have to attend summer school. What could get worse? Chiharu-chan not wanting to play with me?"

"You can't say it like that, that's unfair!" She looks down at her hands, fiddling her fingers. I took in the sight while thanking the heavens for letting me meet such a cute girl.

"I didn't mean it that way. It's fine if you have something up, I'll just head over to Kyosuke's."

"I-I never said I was busy in the first place.." She muttered under her breath.

"Oh? I couldn't hear you clearly. You said that you'll play with me?" I gazed directly at her, making her fiddle around even more.

"Y-you're making fun of me again! I'm sure you heard me loud and clear!"

"Hahahaha, Chiharu-chan's so cute when she's mad!"

"Geez.. Senpai, I might just have to leave you in a ditch one day."

"Come on, I know that you're not that heartless."

We continued to go back and forth until we realized we have no idea where we were headed.

"Senpai, do you want to go to the park?"

"Sure, might as well go somewhere where I can just stroll around to take my mind off things.."

"The only reason why you have unpleasant things on your mind is because of your laziness.."

"You're on about that again? Whatever, you're right anyway. But it's still such a pain.."

We walked around in the park, looking at the various flora in the area to watching the creatures that live in the pond together. Other than that, there wasn't really anything else to do and it was boring, so we just walked around in circles while talking about everything under the sun.

"Senpai, so have you thought about which high school you'll be going to?"

"I'm a summer school attendee. I won't be making it to high school, Chiharu."

"I'm at a loss for words, Senpai.. The only reason why you're going to summer school is to improve your grades!" Chiharu sounded bewildered by my words and sounded genuinely angry.

"Heh.."

"What's so funny, you pessimistic Senpai?"

"You're so cute, Chiharu. How can can go from being so coy to lashing out at your Senpai like this.. Hehe."

"Wha--" Her face became red and she almost choked on her words. She quickly reverted to her usual self.

"Thanks anyway, Chiharu. Thanks for getting angry for my sake when I can't even get angry at myself. All I feel is frustration and wanting to escape from my responsibilities. I don't really give a damn about the results, but you're getting angry in my stead. You're making me want to work harder from now on so I don't crash and burn academically, Chiharu." I smiled gently at her, sending her face further into a flurry of red.

Why is she so easily flustered by me all the time anyway? Huh, it's the same for me, always feeling flustered around her... And yet we're always so comfortable when around each other. Perhaps she feels the same about me.. The same as how much I love her.

"S-senpai.. It's unfair if you say something like that!" Chiharu covered her face with her hands and started to wriggle away from me.

Hehe.. This girl's really.. I've said it so many times, but she's so damn cute!!

"Hm? Why is it unfair?"

"S-shut up!!" She flailed her knuckles around at my general direction, missing every hit she threw out.

In the midst of her acting out, I reached my right hand out and patted her on her head. Her flurry of punches stopped almost immediately, her arms falling back to her sides. Her face's so red.. I'm genuinely concerned..! Does she have a fever??

"Chiharu. I think that you're the only one here for me. For real."

"W-what..?" She looks so flustered at this point it seemed like I would have to catch her anytime in the event she collapses.

"I mean.. You're the only one who's always like this around me, hanging out with me casually. We're like equals, you know? You've never once pitied me, you respect me and being with you only brought fun times for me... You're the only one who cares about me. Everyone else just thinks I'm a good for nothing." I scratch my head, averting my eyes from her. My true thoughts.. They were so embarrassing to say out loud!

Chiharu straightens her back all of a sudden, the redness in her face dissipating into a serious look.

"KARATE CHOP, SENPAI!"

This small girl in front of me chopped me in the middle of the head all of a sudden, almost making me fall due to how sudden it was.

"Ow! What the hell, Chiharu-chan!?"

"I've seen your family! I'm sure all of them care about you too, so don't say such things!"

"Why are you getting angry about this? Geez..."

"Cherish those close to you, senpai!"

"You're close to me, Chiharu-chan.."

"I-I-I'm happy to hear that, but I'm sure your family--"

"Haha, of course they're close to me. Calm down!" I rested my hand on her head again.

Her face turned red once again.

"I meant the people in school, alright? Sorry for not being clear about that."

"W-who would've known!? Anyways, it's--"

I cut her off.

"That's what I mean. You care about me than I care about myself. Hehe."

"That's because..."

She fell silent and looked at her feet, touching her index fingers together.

"Never mind, its nothing! Look at the time now. The sky's getting dark! Let's go home before it gets too late." She turned her ahead away from me, and started to run.

"Hey~ Chiharu-chan, why are you running?~" I called after her in a teasing tone, chasing after her. I already subconsciously know what she wanted to tell me..

And I want to return the exact same words to her.

But for now, I have to do my best to get to high school... So that I don't waste all her effort that was spent on encouraging me. I eventually raced her until we reached the doorsteps of her home, where the both of us, exhausted, wondered why in the world were we even running in the first place. We then said our goodbyes, and I headed home with a newfound purpose in life.

I hope that I'll continue to have Ayakouji Chiharu as my junior in high school! Not just any shabby high school, but one that fits a girl of her ability!