An Afternoon Alone

Throughout the day, Akari tried to approach Ayano. However, fate seemed to conspire against him at every turn. Time and time again, he watched Ayano being swept away by the demands of others. He wondered if it was a sign that perhaps Ayano was intentionally avoiding him.

“Ayano-san!” Akari called out.

“Ah, class president! The teacher’s asking for you!”

“Ayano-san,”

“Suzumiya-san, could you please carry these to the staff room?”

“Ayano-san…”

“Ayano! Let’s go eat lunch together!”

Every time, Akari found himself unable to talk to Ayano. He stood there half in disbelief and the other half out of frustration at his failed attempts.

By the time the final bell reverberated through the school corridors, marking the end of the day, Akari had reached his limit. A rush of energy filled the air as students poured out of their classrooms while lively chatting. Meanwhile, Akari found himself lost in a dreamy state, almost sleeping. His head once again found solace buried in his arm on the desk, consumed by a sense of defeat.

"Ayano-san…" Akari mumbled drowsily, his words a whimsical echo of his slumbering thoughts. He felt a gentle tap on his shoulder that disrupted his peaceful repose. Blinking his bleary eyes open, he slowly focused his gaze on Ayano, who stood before him.

"Paper girl..." Akari mumbled, remnants of sleep still clinging to his senses, a small trail of drool betraying his somnolent state. Ayano winced at the nickname but decided to let it slide, taking a deep breath to gather her thoughts.

"Could you stay after school to help clean the room? The person assigned to it today called in sick, and… it would be really nice not to do it alone," the class president earnestly requested, hoping for Akari's assistance.

Taking a moment to collect his thoughts, Akari gazed at Ayano, lost in reflection. It was a dull Monday afternoon, and going back home didn't seem enticing to him right now. He was well aware that his gang membership came with responsibilities that required his commitment and devotion. The upcoming tasks went beyond simple classroom chores and organization.

Agreeing to help her out, Akari gave Ayano a nod, and the two began cleaning the classroom. Emptying the overflowing bin and tidying up scattered papers, they worked in a comfortable silence, the only sounds being the soft swish of brooms.

"Can I ask you something," Akari inquired as they began cleaning the whiteboard. "Have you been intentionally keeping your distance from me?"

"Oh, uh... well, typically, we refrain from conversing, and I had assumed that you wanted to keep it that way to hide your secret."

“I thought you were purposely avoiding me,”

"It wasn't my intention... I just wasn't sure what I would say to you." Ayano admitted shyly before becoming angry. “Furthermore, why aren’t you addressing me as the class president?! It’s getting annoying hearing you chant ‘Ayano-san, Ayano-san’ over and over again! It’s always either that or ‘paper girl.’”

“Ah… I’m sorry. I forgot.” Akari sheepishly admitted. I’ve been too distracted today.”

“I noticed you were talking to someone during a break,” Ayano pointed out, switching the subject. “Does that have to do with anything?”

“She’s just a friend I met at a hangout,” Akari stated.

“Really? That’s nice.”

“Personally, I would like to avoid her. She's probably super popular," Akari mused. “Any further involvement would only attract more attention and potentially create new enemies,” he recalled the glaring eyes upon him from students in their vicinity. “I really wish we could have found somewhere private to speak… No, that may have ended up worse if someone were to walk in on us…”

“Like us right now?” Ayano pointed out a similar predicament. Akari froze upon realizing this, his face slowly blushing.

"This is different," Akari’s attention fixated on wiping a small section of the board with frantic energy. His movements were overly hasty and rough, betraying his embarrassment.

"I think it's a good idea for you to make more friends," Ayano suggested. 

Akari chose not to respond. It wasn't that he didn't desire companionship; it simply proved to be a troublesome task to establish friendships. Even if he managed to make friends at school and overcome the gangster rumors surrounding him, keeping his secret hidden would present an equally challenging obstacle.

“Ah,” Ayano found herself unable to remove the writing at the top of the board. “I can’t reach it.”

“I got it,” Akari offered, extending his hand to assist Ayano in wiping the top of the board. However, as he raised his arm, he realized that his stature fell short, leaving him unable to reach the intended area. Briefly pausing, Akari gathered his resolve and attempted to stretch his body even further, frantically waving his arm back and forth in a desperate bid to erase the lingering marks on the board. Despite his best efforts, the chalk writings remained untouched.

Akari-kun, we're the same height,” Ayano playfully giggled, finding amusement in the comical sight of Akari standing on his tippy-toes. Akari, unable to hide his disappointment, pouted in response.

"I swear, I'm going to grow taller one day, just wait," Akari grumbled, his voice laced with a hint of frustration and a dash of unwavering determination.

Ayano graced the young boy with a gentle smile. “I believe you,” she assured him, her words filled with encouragement.

♦_______✭❀✭_______♦

The sun cast a warm golden glow over the bustling street as the two left the empty school after finishing their chores. Right outside of the building, Ryoichi greeted them with a polite smile.

"Good afternoon," he said, his voice carrying a friendly tone.

"Ryoichi,” Akari exclaimed. “What are you doing here? Don’t tell me you’re here to pick me up."

"Actually, I'm here for Miss Suzumiya," Ryoichi replied, pointing at Ayano, who looked taken aback by the sudden attention.

"Why are you here for me?"

Ryoichi suddenly bent forward, his body almost forming a perfect ninety-degree bow. "Ayano Suzumiya, please become Akari's tutor!" he implored earnestly.

"Wait, Ryoichi! What are you doing?" Akari interjected, clearly bewildered by the unexpected turn of events.

"This kid has never taken studying seriously. Just getting him to try hard in order to be enrolled at this school was a hassle," Ryoichi explained, his tone carrying a mix of frustration and concern. "While Yuuta and the others may not care about his education as long as Akari is in the gang, I care deeply about his studies. Akari is a smart kid, but he never pushes himself. Just twice a week is more than enough! You'll be personally getting paid by me as well! Please, I beg of you, Miss Suzumiya!"

"But… Why me?" Ayano questioned.

“You know Akari and his special circumstances and as the class president, I can't think of anyone better suited for the task than you,” Ryochi explained.

"Ryoichi..." Akari couldn't believe his ears. He never knew Ryoichi cared so much about his education. But as memories flooded his mind, it started to make sense. There were countless nights when Ryoichi would hover over him while studying, pushing him to persevere. In those moments, Akari had never truly recognized the depth of Ryoichi's patience and dedication, but now, he had to acknowledge it and give credit where it was due.

Reflecting on their shared experiences, Akari realized that Ryoichi's intelligence had always shone through. He was astute and quick-witted, often guiding Akari with a firm yet caring hand. Ryoichi's unwavering belief in him had played a significant role in Akari's journey, and now, his friend's earnest plea for Ayano to become his tutor showcased Ryoichi's commitment to his education.

Lost in thought, Ayano contemplated the weight of Ryoichi's request, her mind filled with swirling considerations. Meanwhile, Akari anxiously watched her, uncertain of which answer he actually hoped for. After a brief but intense period of introspection, Ayano finally nodded, her decision made.

"Alright, I’ll accept."