A Late Night Out

The lively sounds of beeping arcade machines filled the air, creating a vibrant atmosphere within the crowded store. People of all ages gathered around various gaming cabinets, engrossed in games ranging from intense fighting battles to thrilling racing experiences.

Akari found himself seated on a stool next to Naoki, his eyes fixed on his friend's intense gameplay. Naoki's fingers moved rapidly, mashing buttons and manipulating the joystick with fervor as if the outcome of the game held immense importance.

In the midst of the arcade's excitement, Akari couldn't help but feel a sense of boredom creeping in. He turned to Naoki, his gaze clouded with a daze of disinterest.

"Naoki... why are we here?" The young gangster asked, a tinge of curiosity mixed with his apathy. "Yuuta specifically told you not to come back here for a while."

Naoki's eyes remained locked on the game screen, his focus unbroken. "And that's exactly why you're here," he replied, his voice determined. "If you see Yuuta or any of those damn serpents, you let me know immediately, and we leave without hesitation."

Akari sighed, realizing that this outing with Naoki wasn't what he had expected. He had believed Naoki's earlier claim that their presence here was related to their assigned duties but now it seemed clear that Naoki had manipulated the situation solely for his own enjoyment at the arcade.

"Buy me a bag of chips and soda, while you're at it, why don't cha?" Naoki barked with his eyes fixed on the game screen, his focus undeterred. Akari couldn't help but feel a twinge of irritation at his friend's request, reaching his limit.

"That's it. I'm going to tell Yuuta," he declared, determination lacing his words. Akari stood up from the stool, ready to leave.

Naoki's arm shot out, grabbing hold of Akari's sleeve, halting his departure. "Woah, woah, woah, hold up there!" Naoki exclaimed, his voice tinged with concern. "You would rat me out?"

Akari met Naoki's gaze, a mix of frustration and disappointment evident on his face. "You would make me pay for your food and treat me as your servant?" he retorted, his tone firm. Naoki slowly released his grip, a hint of understanding dawning in his eyes. With a sigh, he reached into his wallet and pulled out a few large bills.

"Here's your allowance. Is that enough to keep you quiet?" Naoki asked, a touch of remorse coloring his words. Akari grunted in response as he snatched the bills from Naoki's outstretched hand begrudgingly. Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving Naoki to resume his game. The glasses-wearing troublemaker smiled as he inserted another token to continue his gaming session.

♦_______✭❀✭_______♦

As Akari made his way to the nearest convenience store, he kept his white hoodie on, attempting to shield himself from the cool evening breeze. The streets were still bustling with activity, even at this late hour on a Thursday evening. The golden glow of streetlights illuminated the sidewalk, casting a warm ambiance over the scene with a calm shade of blue that painted the early night sky.

Upon reaching the store, he entered and navigated the aisles, picking up the snacks Naoki had requested. In addition, Akari decided to grab a small sandwich for himself, his appetite urging him to indulge a little.

Approaching the checkout counter, Akari lowered his hood, revealing his face to the store employee. They both recognized each other immediately as their eyes met.

“Inmura-kun!” Nanami excitedly greeted him and placed her hands on the counter. “What a pleasant surprise to see you here at this hour!”

“Nanami-san, good evening.” Akari returned the smile as he placed his items on top.

“What are you doing out so late?” Nanami asked as she began scanning the products.

"Hanging out with a friend, I suppose," Akari replied, keeping the full truth to himself and shrugging casually.

"That sounds like fun," Nanami commented, a tinge of sadness in her voice. "Though I feel a bit sad you're not hanging out with us." She referenced the group chat they had.

"Sorry about that... I keep forgetting to read the chat," Akari sheepishly admitted, handing over the cash for his purchase.

"Please try to read your messages, will you?" Nanami requested with a kind smile.

"I'll try to keep up," Akari promised, feeling a bit guilty.

"Ah, I'm sorry if I made you feel bad! I didn't mean it that way," Nanami quickly apologized, realizing her words might have come across as guilt-tripping.

"No, it's my fault for not reading them," Akari reassured her, understanding her concern. With the plastic bag in hand, Akari prepared to leave the store. “I’ll see you around then, Nanami-san.”

"Hey, Inmura-kun," Nanami called out, her voice stopping Akari in his tracks just as he was about to leave the store. He turned his head back towards her.

"My shift ends in a few minutes," she said, her eyes twinkling with a mischievous spark.

♦_______✭❀✭_______♦

“Thanks for waiting, Inmura-kun!” Nanami exclaimed with a smile as she emerged from the convenience store. Akari had been engrossed in reading messages on his phone while leaning against the wall.

There had been quite a few direct messages from Nanami that he missed. Feeling a tinge of guilt for not responding in the first place, he decided to go along with her plans for the day.

“Where did you want to go?” He inquired, falling into step beside her as they began walking down the street.

“Hmm, most places are either closed or not available to minors at this time,” Nanami searched on her phone. An idea then popped into her mind as she glanced at Akari with a smile. “What about we hang out at my place?”

Akari's eyebrows raised in surprise at the unexpected invitation. "Your place? Are you fine with that?”

“Sure, why not?” Nanami held her arms behind her as they strolled down the street.

Under the darkening sky, Nanami and Akari arrived at a small apartment complex, their footsteps echoing against the concrete pavement. The atmosphere was filled with the quiet hum of streetlights coming to life. They ascended the narrow, dimly lit metal stairs leading to the second floor, their shadows stretching and intertwining with each step.

Reaching Nanami's front door, the soft glow of a porch light spilled out onto the landing, casting a warm aura in the dim surroundings. Just as Nanami fumbled for her keys, the door adjacent to hers creaked open, drawing their attention.

A girl in a gray hoodie emerged with a trash bag tightly gripped in her hand, clearly en route to the nearby garbage bin. As her eyes met Nanami's, she offered a friendly greeting.

“Nanami-san, good evening.” She greeted her before her voice trailed off and her words hung in the air as her gaze shifted to Akari, a flicker of surprise evident in her expression.

"Akari-kun?!" Ayano exclaimed as she dropped the trash bag.

“Class prez?!” Akari's eyes widened in disbelief, his jaw dropping at the surprising revelation. Ayano mirrored his expression, their shock evident as they locked eyes.

“What’s so surprising?” Nanami inquired, her gaze shifting between the two bewildered classmates.

“Ayano-san’s your neighbor?” “You know Akari-kun?”

The questions poured out simultaneously from Akari and Ayano, their voices overlapping in a mix of astonishment and confusion. Nanami furrowed her brow, racking her brain to recall their initial encounter.

"Didn't I mention it the first time we met?" Nanami pondered, trying to retrace their steps to the group date outside the restaurant. She searched her memory for any missed opportunity to share this vital piece of information.

"Clearly, you didn't tell either of us anything!" Ayano interjected, her frustration evident in her tone. Nanami let out a sigh of realization and shook her head

“I could have sworn I told you both everything.”

Nanami's phone buzzed, and she quickly glanced at the screen, her eyes widening in feigned surprise. She put on a concerned expression and turned to Akari and Ayano.

"Oh no, I just received an urgent text. I have to go somewhere immediately," Nanami said, her voice tinged with urgency. She offered an apologetic smile to her two classmates but Akari could tell she was lying based on her tone.

"I'm really sorry but could Inmura-kun wait at your place for a while, Suzumiya-san? It won't take long, I promise," Nanami requested, her words hurried and slightly flustered.

Before Ayano could respond, Nanami interjected, "Great! Thanks so much!" She swiftly turned on her heel and headed toward the exit, leaving Ayano with no opportunity to decline.

Akari, feeling a bit uncomfortable with the situation, spoke up, offering an alternative. "I can just leave and go home, class prez. You don't have to go out of your way for me.”

Just then, his phone vibrated with an incoming message. Akari retrieved his phone and read an urgent text sent from Yuuta. The color drained from his face as the gravity of the situation sunk in.

"Uh... I..." Akari stammered, struggling to find the right words as he lowered his phone with a shaky hand. "Yuuta just informed me that there's trouble in the neighborhood. It's not safe for me to go home right now..."

Ayano and Akari exchanged nervous glances, realizing the predicament they were now stuck in.