Why Does This Concern You?

The next day, Mika got ready. He put on a simple shirt and a pair of jeans. After briefly looking at himself in the mirror, he was all set. It was still early, but he didn't mind. He tidied up his room and was about to leave when he heard a knock on the door.

Who could that be?

 He hurried downstairs and opened the door. It was Saya, wearing a peculiar expression on her face.

"Hey Mika."

"Hi, Saya. What's up? Why did you come all of a sudden?"

"Well... I forgot my drawing tablet, so I came to get it."

"Oh, right. Wait for a second, I'll give it to you," Mika said and quickly went upstairs.

"Can I come in?" Saya called out as Mika was going upstairs.

"Yeah, sure, come in," Mika replied.

After Mika went upstairs and grabbed the bag, he returned downstairs. Saya was wandering around inside.

"What's going on, Saya?"

"Um... I-I just wanted to take a look around."

"I see. Here's your drawing tablet."

"Thank you."

As Mika looked at Saya, he noticed she seemed to be in better spirits.

"Are you feeling better today?"

"Yes, thanks."

"Was yesterday tough for you?"

..." Saya suddenly seemed to remember something and furrowed her eyebrows.

"Saya?"

"Were you at our school yesterday?"

"What?"

"Eirin mentioned it. They saw you with someone..."

"Oh, you mean being followed by them, then yes, something like that happened."

"Why didn't you tell me yesterday?"

"Well, I didn't want to be bombarded with questions. I guess?"

"Bombarded with questions? Hahaha, there are still so many things I need to ask YOU!" Saya said, her voice a mix of anger and curiosity.

"What? Are you okay, Saya?"

"I'm fine, but I won't recognize you in a moment!" she said, her voice still sounding annoyed and intrigued. 

"First of all, why didn't you tell me that we go to the same school?" Saya asked with a mixture of anger and curiosity.

"Well... I guess I didn't know? We never asked each other about our schools," Mika said matter-of-factly.

Saya looked at Mika for a while but couldn't come up with a response.

 "Alright then, tell me this: who were the people with you on the last day of exams when you went to karaoke?"

"Karaoke? You knew about that?"

"Eirin told me, remember?"

"Sorry, Right. They were my classmates. Kai, a boy, and Yuki, my childhood friend and also his girlfriend."

"I'm not talking about them. I'm asking about the person with YOU?"

"What? Oh, are you talking about Mana?"

"So, her name is Mana... What is your relationship with her?"

"Relationship? Uh, she's just a classmate."

"Just a classmate, and you're going with four people?"

"Yes, to be honest, I found out later, and we've just met recently."

"Hmm, has anything strange happened between you?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, you know, anything romantic or something." Saya said with a hint of irritation and blushing.

"Saya, you know that I-"

"I know, yes. Right, I'm sorry."

"No problem."

"Okay then, I feel relieved."

"Why did you ask all these questions?"

"Just to make sure."

"To make sure of what?"

"Mind your own business!" Saya said, embarrassed.

"Fine," Mika said in a flat tone. He was relieved that the questioning was over, but they were still in an odd situation. While Saya was questioning Mika, she had physically cornered him against the wall and was asking her questions right in front of him. Now, Saya was looking at Mika with surprise, and Mika was trying to figure out what was going on.

"U-uh, anyway! If you come to school again, let me know. Huh," Saya said, turning her back.

"I can't promise, but we'll see."

Saya turned back, looking angrily at Mika.

"Calm down, I'll tell you, just calm down," Mika said.

Saya took a deep breath and, looking at what Mika was wearing, asked in surprise,

 "Are you going out?"

"Yes, I'll be going out in a bit."

"Hey!, shall we go together? Although, where to?"

"Uh, it's Yuki's birthday tomorrow. We're going to celebrate at school and buy her a present."

"We? Who with?"

"Mana."

After a short silence, Saya walked towards Mika and asked,

 "Are you kidding me?"

"H-huh, no?"

"Why are you going with her?"

"Because she suggested it, and it made sense to me."

"She suggested it? Where are you going to meet?"

"In front of the Lovers' statue."

"WHAAAAT? Who suggested that?"

"I did," Mika said flatly.

After a brief silence, Saya's angry expression suddenly turned into a smile as she asked,

 "So, Mika, is this considered a date, huh?"

Mika thought to himself, 

Why is she reacting this way?

"Uh, I guess it might be. She asked the same thing."

"What did you answer?"

"I said yes," Mika said.

Saya had clenched her fist and was smiling. From an outsider's perspective, she looked terrifying, but when it came to Mika, she was just trying to understand.

"Mika, can you give me a reason not to both punch and pinch you? You have three seconds."

"What?"

"One, two-"

"I-I don't understand why you're reacting like this. Is going out with someone such a big deal? Yes, maybe I've never been out before, but why should it be weird? Why do you care? Why does it matter to you?"

"WHY DOES IT MATTER?" Saya was about to say something angrily, but suddenly she stopped, her angry expression vanished, and her eyes widened in fear and embarrassment.

"Hey Saya, are you okay-"

"DON'T LOOK AT ME." Saya turned around instantly. She had just realized the seriousness of what she said and asked.

"I-I'm... Am I jea-jealous?" She murmured quietly.

"I don't understand?" Mika said, following her from behind.

"NOTHING! Oh, Mika, you're such an idiot," she said, then quickly headed towards the front door. She grabbed her drawing tablet next to it and opened the door. She put on her slippers quickly.

"Hey, Saya, what's wrong-"

"DON'T TALK TO ME!" Saya said, her voice full of embarrassment but without anger. Just before leaving, she said one last thing:

"I'm not a-an-at all angry, don't mi-misunderstand. Nothing is going on between us," she said and closed the door.

Mika quickly headed to the door and opened it, but Saya was already far away.

What's her problem exactly? 

***

After watching Saya leave for a while, Mika went back inside and checked his watch.

If I don't leave right away, I'll be late,

 After grabbing his bag, he quickly started walking toward the place where he was going to meet Mana.

On the way, he passed by Thole's shop. Thole waved and called out,

 "Hi, Mika!"

"Hello, Uncle Thole."

"Did you fight with your girl, and now you're going after her?"

"Girl? What do you mean?"

Thole started laughing.

 "She was talking on the phone and seemed in a hurry."

"You mean Saya."

"Yes, that's the one."

"No, we didn't fight. I don't know why she's going this way though," Mika said, waving to Thole as he continued on his way.

"Well then, be careful on your way, young man!" Thole said, waving back.

Did Saya go this way? Why would she take this route? It's opposite her house and leads to the city center,

"Anyway, I shouldn't keep Mana waiting," he said, quickening his pace.