An Unexpected Turn of Events

Shiori tilted her head back and thought back on her day. "Nothing unusual has happened… I've spent most of the day reading manga…"

Yuta breathed out in relief. "Nothing bad happened, then?"

She shook her head. "Why do you ask?"

"No particular reason." Yuta sat up and stretched.

"Could we… meet after school today?"

"Sorry, I have to help my family with the restaurant. Tomorrow works, though."

"Then… tomorrow… right after school?"

"Works for me. I'll prepare a lesson for you when my shift ends tonight."

Shiori nodded enthusiastically. "I'll look forward… to it…"

A smile grew on Yuta’s face. He was grateful that Ichinose and her friends hadn’t done anything to Shiori yet. However, the yet still bothered him. He knew they were plotting something but didn’t know what it was or when they would put it into action.

After class ended and he was finished changing, Yuta headed back to the classroom. Since he had used the restroom, most of the students were already in their seats by the time he arrived, Shiori included.

In Shiori’s hand was a piece of paper. Yuta stepped beside her to see what was on it, hoping the contents weren’t anything mean. “What’s that?”

“I don’t know… I found it on my desk…” She angled it toward him so he could read it.

Dear Ozaki,

Ever since I first saw you, I couldn’t get you out of my mind. I was always too nervous to tell you how I felt, but I think I can have the courage to say it if I write you this letter. Please meet me on the roof after school so I can properly declare my feelings for you.

On the bottom of the note was a heart sticker. Yuta stared at the letter blankly. “Somehow I have a bad feeling about this…”

Shiori’s face was bright red, and she fidgeted like never before. “W-W-What should I do…Y-Y-Yuta?”

“In all honesty, I don’t think you should go.”

“B-But they went through all the effort…”

“You don’t want to be in this situation, right?”

She nodded vigorously.

“Then don’t go. It’ll be the same thing as saying no. It will probably hurt the person less than if you went just to say no.” ‘There’s also a chance this might not actually be a love letter, but there’s no way I’m telling her that…’

“But they went out of their way to deliver it to me…” She frowned, unsure of what the right choice would be.

Yuta sighed. “If you think it’s better to go, be my guest. However, if you do go, I want to be there to make sure nothing goes wrong.”

Shiori lit up. “Okay!”

“Class is about to start, so I’ll take my leave. Make sure you don’t stress over it.” He started for his desk, silently praying the letter wasn’t a trick to mess with Shiori.

Ms. Suzuki walked in a minute after the bell rang, mumbling to herself. Once she got to the podium, she cleared her throat. “Terrible afternoon, isn’t it class? Get ready to taste a small portion of the garbage you kids bring me every day…”

…

Yuta met Shiori in front of the stairway that led to the school’s roof. She removed the letter from the bag on her side and turned to the stairs.

“I’m not ready for a relationship…” She began up the stairway. Yuta followed loosely behind, watching her from a distance. Shiori reached the top of the stairs and opened the door to the roof.

Yuta stayed on the other side of the door, keeping it open just enough for him to see what was happening on the rooftop.

Surprise stopped Shiori in her tracks. The only person on the roof was a girl that had her back to Shiori. Just as Shiori turned around, the girl called out to her.

“Ozaki, wait!”

She turned back to see the girl reaching out to her. “W-Were you the one… who sent this?” Shiori showed the letter to the stranger.

“Well, yes, but…” Her gaze dropped to the ground. “I’m not sure I should be doing this…”

“I c-came here to tell you my answer…” Shiori started fidgeting. This situation was foreign to her, and it left her very uncomfortable.

“You don’t have to tell me; I know what it is… I’m sorry!” The girl ran past Shiori and down the stairs.

Yuta had to jump back to avoid being hit by the door when it swung open. Before he could join Shiori on the rooftop, he heard a voice that irritated him.

“Well, if it isn’t Ozaki.” Ichinose stepped out of her hiding place with her two friends. “Looks like making Fujikawa write that letter paid off. I didn’t think she would actually come up here!”

Her friends giggled behind her. “Why wouldn’t she? She’s too tender to not show up.”

Shiori glanced between the three girls in front of her in confusion. “W-What’s going on?”

Ichinose took a step closer to her and one of her friends disappeared from Yuta’s view. “We had that girl write that letter and leave it on your desk so we could get you alone up here.”

“I’m not going to let them hurt Shiori…” Just as he was about to jump out to Shiori’s defense, the door shut in front of him.

Ichinose glanced back. “Thanks for keeping the studyholic away, Suzu.”

Yuta tried to yank the door open, but it didn’t work no matter how many times he tried.

Shiori took a step back, afraid of what might happen.

A wide grin spread across Ichinose’s face while she approached Shiori. “There’s nowhere to run, Ozaki. We have a lot to discuss.”

“W-What are you trying to do?”

Yuta continued his attempts to get the door open, but nothing worked. Frustration gnawed at him.

“I just need to talk with you about something, that’s all. Surely you don’t mind?”

“A-Actually, I do…”

“Well too bad. Your pathetically shy behavior won’t get you out of this conversation.”

Shiori’s back touched the fence that lined the rooftop. Her eyes shut in apprehension.

Ichinose stopped in front of her and extended her arm to pin Shiori against the fence. “You’re going to answer me carefully…”