Aren't You Dating?

 “Good afternoon, Inmura-san! Akihara-san!” Chiaki waved his arm frivolously in his yellow jacket and brown backpack. The flowery blonde-haired boy jumped up from the wooden bench with a soda in his hand.

The two gangsters strolled over to him as Chiaki gave them a beaming smile. Based on the two stuffed plastic bags next to him, Akari assumed that he had been shopping at the department store for quite a while now.

“I hope you haven’t been waiting for us,” he said while adjusting his white cap.

“Not at all,” Chiaki let out a refreshed sigh. “I’ve been with Momo-chan for the past few hours.”

“Is she here today?” Akari glanced as he glanced around the lively store trying to spot her out of the crowd.

“The girls are out on their hangout,” Shinji explained as he shoved Akari’s visor down. “It’s just us three today.”

♦_______✭❀✭_______♦

“Gah! I almost had it!” Chiaki slammed the palms of his hands against the smooth glass of the claw machine.

“Let me have a try,” Shinji stepped up as he slid in a coin. The two others stood to the side as Shinji focused in on his target. Holding the flashing red button, the claw moved to the middle of the machine before sliding back upon pressing another button. Gradually descending, the claw successfully clasped onto the red collar of a cow plushie adorned with a spotted pattern. With the prize suspended in mid-air, the two boys erupted with excitement.

“Shinji-kun, are you a claw machine master?!” Chiaki’s eyes beamed as the calm gangster reached down.

“Here,” Shinji dropped the plushie into Akari’s hands whose eyes were glimmering. “You can have it.”

“R-really?”

“Yeah, I don’t like these sorts of things anyway.”

“Why did you give it to Akari-kun? Why not me?” Chiaki pouted as he placed a hand on his hips.

“Would you like me to get you one?” Shinji pulled out another coin from his pocket.

“Forget it,” Chiaki turned around and let out a sigh. “It doesn’t feel the same if I have to ask you for one.”

“Besides, Akari-kun can give it to Ayano-san,”

“That’s a smart idea!” Chiaki replied as they walked to an escalator to head up the building.

“Why would I give it to her?’ Akari asked with a hint of confusion written on his face.

“Aren’t you dating Ayano-san?” Chiaki wondered. “After all, you two spend so much time together.”

“That’s not true!” Akari shouted. “I don’t like her one bit!”

“Really?” Chiaki asked with a sly smile.

“Well…” Akari shyly glanced away. “At least, I think I don’t.”

“Ehhhhh?~”

“That’s enough, Chiaki-kun. You shouldn’t tease Akari-kun,” Shinji interrupted the boy’s playful banter, to Akari’s surprise. He hadn’t expected Shinji to stand up for him. A mix of confusion and relief washed over him.

♦_______✭❀✭_______♦

“Chiakiiii!”

“Momo-chan?” Chiaki's eyes widened in surprise as the pink-haired girl rushed towards him, with two others casually strolling behind her. Before Akari could even greet them, Momo leaped over and enveloped Chiaki in a tight embrace, her exclamation filling the air.

“I’m back, Chiaki!”

“Why are you three here?” Chiaki asked, a puzzled smile on his face. “I thought you were enjoying a sweets cafe.”

“We did,” Nanami replied, her soft voice resonating with an air of calmness as she and the other girl caught up to them at a leisurely pace.

“Tomoe-chan suggested that we catch a movie!” Momo interjected, her words bursting forth with uncontainable enthusiasm.

“You’re putting words in my mouth,” the black-haired girl, Tomoe Umeji, responded. “I had merely expressed a desire to head home and indulge in a show.”

“But it’s too early to go home!” Momo tugged on Tomoe’s hand, urging her friend to stay longer.

“I actually agree with her,” Shinji spoke up, surprising the others. “After all, it’s been a while since all six of us got together.”

Tomoe let out a defeated sigh. “If you say so. I’ll listen to you, Shinji-kun.”

“It is quite a challenge to bring Umeji-san and Inmura-kun out.” Nanami reminded. “One prefers to stay at home while the other never reads his messages.”

“I’ve been getting better!” Akari retorted, a tinge of embarrassment coloring his glare. Momo couldn't help but let out a laugh, diffusing the tension of their playful debate. In a burst of excitement, she shot a single arm high into the air.

“Alrighty then!” Momo shouted with a beaming grin. “Let’s go watch a movie!”

♦_______✭❀✭_______♦

As the crowded theater enjoyed the movie, Akari's soul was deeply troubled. The young boy squirmed uncomfortably in his red seat, desperately wishing for the film to end. Akari regretted the decision to watch an action movie centered around gangsters. While the acting was impressive, the portrayal of gangsters in the plot made him cringe.

In every scene, the members of the acting gang displayed violent tendencies, constantly engaging in acts of violence against each other. Additionally, most of them lacked intelligence and the ability to read. Unable to endure any more of the distressing scenes, Akari slowly rose from his seat to leave.

“Bathroom,” he mumbled as the young gangster brushed his way past Nanami and Shinji. With a sense of relief, Akari made his way to the carpeted lobby. As he rested by the concession stand, Akari spotted Tomoe approaching him while holding a small container of popcorn.

“You're here too?” Tomoe questioned, wearing a bored expression. “Did you dislike the writing as much as I did?”

“Something like that,” Akari brushed off the question.

“I see,” Tomoe popped a single kernel of popcorn into her mouth and nodded knowingly. The two introverts found themselves standing next to the concession stand, surrounded by a hush that seemed to envelop them. The only sounds breaking the silence were the occasional pops of popcorn and the muted noises emanating from the movie playing in the background.

Akari hadn't had many opportunities to talk with Tomoe before. Even during their group date, the braided-haired girl remained mostly silent, choosing to observe rather than participate in the discussions. All Akari knew about her was that she was a bookworm.

Just as the silence settled between them, Momo unexpectedly emerged from the theater room, bringing a burst of liveliness among them.

“What are you two doing out here?” She inquired, curiosity evident in her voice.

“Talking,” Tomoe responded nonchalantly, “The movie is boring after all.”

“You two sure have similar distaste,” Momo shook her head disapprovingly with a sigh. “And here I’d thought Akari-senpai matched with Ayano-senpai more.”

“Why does everyone keep saying that? We’re barely even friends!” Akari pointed out.

“Ehhh?! You're not dating Ayano-san?!” Momo gasped, clearly taken aback by the revelation.

“I'm not!” Akari replied with a flustered expression. The constant assumption was starting to grate on him, leaving the young gangster puzzled as to why everyone thought of him and Ayano in that way.

“What a shame,” Momo said, a tinge of disappointment in her voice. “I had always thought you two looked so well together.”

“But you just said we didn't—” Akari started to protest, but before he could finish, Tomoe cut in.

“Based on Yuzuki-san's words, I have to agree,” she interjected, inserting her own opinion. "Perhaps Inmura-kun would have a more captivating story with her than this dull ‘Gangsters Under a Tree’ movie.”

“You can butt out of this,” Akari shot an annoyed glance at Tomoe. “You don’t even know her.”

“Tch, so mean,” Tomoe responded with a click of her tongue, munching on her popcorn with nonchalance as she sauntered back toward the theater. The door swung closed behind her, leaving Akari alone with Momo.

“So you really aren’t dating Ayano-senpai?” Momo asked in a hushed whisper as she leaned in close.

“We’re not!” Akari shouted back as he pulled down the brim of his cap. “Why did you think we’re dating?”

“To me, the amount of time you spend with someone is really important when it comes to relationships,” Momo began to explain as she purchased a few snacks. "Whenever I saw you with Ayano-senpai, you both seemed to be genuinely enjoying each other's company. That's why I thought you two were dating.”

“Do you and Chiaki-kun spend a lot of time together?” Akari asked, curious as they headed back to the movie theater room.

Momo’s face lit up with a smile. “We do! I would say that we spend probably just as much time together as you and Ayano-senpai do! We’re not in the same class or even the same school, so it’s harder for us to meet up.” She sheepishly giggled, feeling a touch of embarrassment at discussing her own relationship. However, she quickly remembered the purpose of their outing.

“Ah, I should get back to the movie! I just wanted to buy snacks and almost forgot about it! Come on, Akari-senpai! Maybe the movie is not great for you and Tomoe-chan, but as long as you're spending time with friends, it’s fun!" Momo encouraged him with a beaming smile.

As Momo turned and walked back into the theater, leaving Akari standing there, he found himself deep in contemplation. Confusion surrounded his relationship with Ayano and the assumptions weighed heavily on his mind.

“Ayano-san is just my friend,” he mused to himself. “She's just a friend... right?”