091 – Simmering Feelings

A/N: TL;DR: I'm doing a formatting experiment in this chapter, and the timeline sequence is still all over the place.

So recently I've been using third person point of view in my previous chapters, and it actually made the POVs in 090 hard for me to write. This chapter will be rather experimental, as I will mix those two points of view in this chapter to see how it will work.

Hold it, I know that using them both at the same time will be confusing to write per se. So I will take a try and use the usual ‹› indicators for 1st person, while I have already done that very seldom in the previous chapter. It will still act as an identifier to who is speaking, so I might be cutting corners here a little.

Anyway, I think that the timeline in this chapter will be worse, but this will be the last!

▪ ▪ ▪

‹Gin›

His eyes stubbornly closed, eyebrows frowning, arms crossed, he rested himself on the couch stiffly as the result of his facial expression is one that is pondering about something with a degree of significance that one ought not to worry about. Haku has graciously ignored him, but Rin attempted to supplement her curiosity and her very slight annoyance to the man's face.

"Hey, Potato. What's that face supposed to mean?"

"Mggghhh…

I'm always trying to ignore this thing but my observation just can't help but pick it up to my senses… Kinda worrying for me at least."

"Sure," and she continued on in the kitchen that she is borrowing.

"There's something bothering me about Akira, you see… I was surprised and all when he declared that he became Tenth's secretary, but I didn't really mind what work he is doing. I actually started to notice him a lot now that we're second years. The school year's about to end next month, so I really want to ignore it…"

"Sure.

Uh, your pepper mill ran out of peppercorn just now. I still need more."

"Oh. I think I still have some on the top cabinet on your left."

"There it is. Of course you can't be a Sakato if you don't have extra peppercorn lying around elsewhere. Seriously, are your genes not made of peppers, Gin?"

"It's just a coincidence."

"Also, what are you actually talking about? It's rare that you're not being direct to the point today."

"Well… have you seen how Akira works around the school?"

"Um, uhhh…?

I actually see him outside the office a lot more than last year. Oh, right, he sometimes checks around the school and work with the disciplinary committee.

Actually, he sometimes looks like an errand boy when I see him posting announcements on bulletin boards all over the school."

"And that's a part of why I am worried—him being active around."

"What's wrong about that?"

"Hahh… That's because…"

‹I mean, checking around and patrolling the school is good and all because he is someone who actually has an authority, although very questionable on foreign eyes. But as Nagi and Shiro would say, some things are just tied by coincidences, and I just hope that my worries aren't very identical to the outcome of the autumn couple's situations.

Since the change of the director and the system, the changes in the school have been incremental and subtle. Tenth, once one gets to know him, is actually somewhat of an experimentalist socially. One example of it is that our VA classroom did not change locations, but the neighboring rooms did. Last year, the rooms beside us are the same year but different departments. But now that we are second years, the room assignments have become quite diverse. Currently, our neighbors are BM and Accountancy in first years.

In truth, the walls are thick in every room, but we were still enlightened by what was happening in S1BM, which was literally just beside us, when it was times for preparation for the Open Event, and it just happened that we were not in the clubroom at that time. Here's the thing: I have solved some major problems regarding other students, but that does not automatically mean that I will have to mediate or meddle with every issue that occurs. Sometimes it can only become fuel to the fire.

Okay, Gin, you've made a point. But that's not the premise of my worries. I mentioned that we are very near to S1Acc's room, and that means that I sometimes see Anna out and about.

This is where the dots align. So to summarize my concerns as I personally don't want another TL;DR to appear, I pretty much get to observe that Anna and Akira coincidentally meet in certain postures.›

"And this is where I ought to trust my intuition, Rin. I think that something is cooking on that note."

"Yes, I'm making picadillo for our lunch."

"Yeah, I'm very thankful that you are making lunch for us again despite saying satire just now."

"Why are you very worried about them anyway? You know, I trust Akira, and if your assumptions are true and they…"

She stopped on her words as a heavy thought ran through his mind instantly. Rin asked herself the very question she asked, and found out that the answer is already in her, if not close to her.

"I'm sorry, Gin. I was inconsiderate just now. I now understand your stand."

"Don't mind it, but I'm glad that we're seeing eye to eye now."

"Alright… I'll have to rephrase. Akira is trustworthy, and we agree on that… but even I wouldn't want them to have a quick or ultimately, a development in an impulse.

I guess there are things that the youngest child of a family wouldn't really get to consider."

Gin calmly smiled in relief, "But hey, you look at her as a younger sister, right?

And you're the youngest child of your family yourself!"

"Yes!" she responded to the actual question.

"…

But on a slightly different note, do you think that they are a good pair, Potato?"

"Considering Bentley and him currently, I'm not very sure… unless imouto actually has a hint of timidity?"

"Gin, I was already very timid, but you did see how I was so much shier to you when I realized that I like you, right?"

"I see… sometimes girls are really hard to understand, but a maiden's heart is still delicate, huh…"

"What's that supposed to mean?!"

▪ ▪ ▪

Q: What exactly is happening to the two persons in question?

A: They were (also) being brought by strings of coincidences.

In truth, Akira Juushiro and Anna Sakato can only be considered acquaintances at most. Their already very distant social relationship is only being mediated and put together by Gin, as the latter's older brother. It was however not a matter of shyness and aloofness. In reality, they rarely meet which is merely under the scope of formalities and concurrent events in the school.

Still, they do not consider themselves as strangers. In Anna's eyes, Akira was formerly a student of Blue Ink, now the secretary of the principal, and Gin's friend. On the other hand, Akira considers her as a student of Blue Ink, and his friend's younger sister.

Gin's hunch has never been proven true to their point of conversation. He firmly believes that not everything can always go the same way—Nagi and Shiro's case for instance. And actually, he personally did not want it to go down the same path, fitting for a brother that wishes to protect her sibling; not to follow his and Rin's shortcomings.

…

As cliched as it is, the ball started to roll in a simple bump in the middle of the hallway in a certain day in July, and no need to guess, a bunch of innocent papers were involved in that unexpected, but tiny incident.

"Oh, s-sorry. Are you okay?"

No one fell to the floor and it was not even a vigorous bump, but Akira still expressed his concern while unknowingly staring intently at the rather springy cowlick of the girl.

Akira is a man of virtue, at least more than Gin. He is not someone who inwardly goes rather crazy when seeing various types of hairstyles, or simply when his significant other-

The cowlick was not the reason as to how Akira distinguished that it was Anna.

"Oh, it was you, Anna. I'm really sorry about that."

"No, it's fine, Secretary Akira," she then crouched and picked up the papers with tables of data written on them.

"Please just call me by my name. That makes me feel awkward since I'm about the same age as the seniors here."

But there is a twist: Akira was also holding onto a bundle of papers with tabulated information on them.

"I'll help out."

"Thank you."

"What are these for? Are you going to the faculty room?"

"Ah, no. I was returning to our classroom. These are data that I need to put to spreadsheet once I get home later. It's for a small research we were doing."

"I see. I guess the curriculum is steadily improving. When I was still a student here, we didn't get the chance to dabble a lot on research papers. Well, anyway, I think I can write them now."

"To be honest, it's really hard to understand the concepts when it comes down to using them practically."

"I kind of understand. When you thought you've made a good paper, you'll realize that there are still so many things you can improve down the line."

"I've never really thought of critiquing our own work."

"I guess that that's what I learned from making art for quite a while. Sometimes I needed to be hard on myself so that I can learn from the mistakes I did."

"Uhh… Is that a general quote in life, or are you applying that on art?"

"…Uuuuhhhh…

Pfft… I didn't know it sounded like that. I'm only talking about art. I'm pretty content with how I'm with my family now. I think that I still have time to take some things easily apart from my current work. I just can't procrastinate about it."

"That's true."

"I think that that's about all the papers. It was nice talking to you, Anna."

"Likewise."

~ ~ ~

Akira Juushiro is a courteous and insightful person, that is, after giving up the name and personality of Akira Bentley.

On the still young night of the same day…

"Hello, Gin? Do you have the day off at work today?"

"Huh? No. Why do you ask?"

"Well, I'm actually outside your house right now. I thought you were home because the lights inside are open."

"Ah, that. Haku opens my lights by sundown so I always come home like that. The resto is going to close at 8, though. Do you need something?"

"Well, you see… I kinda bumped to Anna earlier and got our papers mixed up. I came here to exchange them."

"Why go to my house, then? Just knock on the family house."

"Are you seriously saying that like it's no one's business, Gin?! Imagine a guy coming to your sister's house looking for her! I've had my fair share of how scary parents are from Uncle Junpei, so I'm sure that my life will end through Uncle Amano's hands tonight…!"

"Heh."

"…?!"

"Right, right. I understand what you're getting at, so try asking Rin if she can accompany you."

"That's a good idea and all, but I feel that you might be the one to kill me because of your suggestion."

"Then behave yourself."

"Yes, sir. I don't want my precious life to end today."

And so, he made Rin knock on the Sakato house's door which was opened by Kei from the inside.

"Need something, Ringo?"

"Not me, but Akira. Can I go to Anna's room? He's looking for her."

"Alright, but only you. I'll strangle this guy while I wait."

"Please spare my life, Yuka Kei…! I'm just here to trade paper works…!"

"Sasuga, Kei-onii-san," Rin uttered as she excused herself inside the house.

…

"Waaaahhhh…! I'm sorry for taking your time, but thank you for coming…!"

Anna then lowered her head as she hands out the papers that were mixed in hers, while Akira did the same thing. Since things are about to be settled, Kei listlessly went back to his room.

"It's fine. I also figured that you're doing your spreadsheets right now, so I thought that I have to come here before I go home."

"I really can't thank you enough, Yuka Akira…! I was about to try messaging you, but I realized that I actually don't have your number…

Thank goodness I'm saved for tomorrow's deadline…!"

"Aren't she desperate, Ringo?"

"I heard that these siblings have the tendency to get too serious at their works."

"I see… Well, might as well exchange numbers, Anna."

"Uh? You don't have a contact card, Yuka Akira? That's unprofessional," Anna retorted with a straight face.

"Pfft…!" which almost made Rin burst out of laughter.

"I can't be up and putting my personal contact in my card."

"Ohh. Well, I don't think that there is a real need to get your number, but let's exchange anyway."

Anna's words were almost literally burning.

"Didn't you just say that you were supposed to text me if you had my number?"

"Oh, that's right," Anna's cowlick straightened up, "But again, thank you very much."

"You're welcome."

The two then stepped out of the household.

"You can go back to your house now, Ringo. Any longer than this and Gin might snatch me under the dark."

"Ahaha. You're safe, you're safe. Careful on your way home."

"Will do."

It was at that moment… when Akira realized that Anna is an airhead and a natural sarcastic.

But in the middle of all that, a very small part of Akira was glad that he was able to talk normally with Anna considering their ineptness in socialization to each other.

▪ ▪ ▪

August.

While some people are befriending a young mother, and others are busy monitoring a certain person who goes out at night to take out thugs, the first years are pretty lax compared to a handful of second years.

"Hey, Anna. I've noticed for quite some time already, but your lunch is always packed, huh?" Naru asked, with an ulterior motive to nab food on Anna's bento.

Surely the bento as a norm in the country of Orio has already been explained.

"Really? I just make how much I eat, though?"

"You can now also cook, Anna-chan?!"

"Why do you look so surprised?!"

"Of course I am surprised. Last year in Home Economics, you look like you're going to stab someone with how you held your knife."

"Can we just forget that? I had Nee-chan to teach me how to make the stuff on Nii's recipe notebook.

Also, don't act like you want to escape your cage any moment. The life of living alone is hard without your parents when you don't know the ways in the house."

"I don't want to hear that from you, but you sound pretty grown-up."

And a lecture went for ten minutes.

"Now what are you reading, Naru?"

Anna has finished her pointers, and the group reverted to relaxation again. She peered on Naru's phone as she saw the header of the webpage.

"Just got my attention. It's about how couples develop their relationship with each other through certain mood criteria."

"Are you still daydreaming, Naru?"

"If I heard that from Ai-chan, I would have grabbed her collar."

"D-Do what, Naru-chan…?!"

"Ahhh…! G-Gomen!

Anyway! This specific page tells stuff like optimal places, environment, and ambiance when you're with your partner. Although by the looks of it, this is targeted for men who want to have an idea on how he will plan his next date."

"Aren't guys who resort to searching 101's in the net for dates hopeless?"

Surely, some male students in the rooftop heard that, and got their hearts stabbed mercilessly.

"In hindsight, isn't that also a way for girls to know their preferences in that kind of thing?" thankfully, Ai returned the flow of conversation.

Naru was irked, and asked with a provoked tone and visage.

"Oi, oi… You're not yet dating Yuka Jean, are you?"

"N-N-No, of course not…!"

Ai was about to say her passage with a "yet," but she knew that her collar might seriously get grabbed.

…

"Anything new on Sora and Aomine?"

"You're still gossiping about that, Naru?"

"Sora-san doesn't look like she's interested in that way, though."

"Ai-chan's right. Sora's definitely cute and looks dignified, so she's probably like men who have great looks."

"Like Secretary Juushiro, or should I say, Yuka Akira?"

"Yeah, I guess," Anna agreed, "he now has above-average looks compared to how he was two years ago, but I don't think Sora likes very humble types.

Ah."

Abruptly, the bell rang.

▪ ▪ ▪

Last day of Open Event.

Finally finishing all the work she had with their chosen activity, Anna was able to do free-roam for the rest of the day before the closing event began.

Q: What did she do for the rest of her free time?

A: Eat.

She has been walking and eating for a few hours while circling around the entire school through the hallways, and one thing stuck out to her, and probably to everyone.

"Why are there so many lanterns all around the school?"

She swore to herself that she saw those lanterns already installed before even the Open Event started on its first day. The weekday was already nearing its end, and it still served as a mystery to her.

However, there are still more than one hour before the concluding event begins, and so she sat under the century-old tree. She looked up and found that it even has numerous lanterns hanging on there. It was already beautiful as it is, but she wondered how it would look like if they are lit up on the dark.

…

When one eats, that one should also drink.

It was her first time roaming around the whole school, and now she finds out that there is not one vending machine found near the administrative office.

The sun has begun sinking down to the horizon and the school has quieted down significantly. To her surprise, a broadcast was made prompting everyone to turn off the lights in the entire school. She was just a few meters away from the nearest vending machine and the lights went out. The only way she can see what she wants to pick was through the lights inside the machine itself.

"Waaahh… My eyesight is really getting bad, huh."

A male voice from behind her spoke as the person peered on the machine.

"You almost scared me, Yuka Akira…"

"Oh, it was you, Anna? I thought it was someone."

"Are you looking for a drink? I can still see the names clearly."

"Oh, thanks. I owe you one. Let me treat you then."

"Eh… Thanks, I guess?"

"Sure!"

"Actually… what's going on, Yuka Akira?"

"Well, you'll see soon enough. You might be surprised."

"Everyone on five…! Ready?"

"Eh?! Uh… Wha-

Five, four, three, two, one…"

Just like a candle that was lit in the dark, the lanterns illuminated the hallway with a soft, warm light all at once.

"Wha-?!"

But it was a little too sudden in Anna's eyes. Her drink hasn't yet opened, but a strong flinch made her fall down on a sit.

"Woah… You suddenly fell. Are you alright, Anna?" Akira lightly exclaimed and lowered his body as he extends his hand out to help the girl get up.

"I-I'm fine, really. I was just surprised."

She placed her left hand on Akira's as she tries to raise herself up by unfolding her legs.

But she came to a halt before even moving an inch.

Her eyes unawarely locked on Akira's face that was illuminated by the subtle lights that came from both sides of the hallway.

That was when she realized how quiet the hallway is now, take away the very minute number of decibels heard from the cheers from afar.

She blinked her unmoved eyes and finally made her body move to stand up.

"T-Thanks…"

For some reason, she became flustered. Her face warmed up somewhat along with her ears as she looked down on her feet. But she was not the only one who was abashed. An exclamation mark came out of Akira's head after realizing what he did.

"A-Ahh…! Sorry about that…!"

Anna continued to look down without any kind of response. She heard the fluttering of the leaves from the outside, and walked towards the window and rested her hands on the sill. The cold wind blew from outside, but it was easily defeated by her thick jacket worn as a layer. Her mind was then cleared out.

But then she had a recollection.

Quiet. Dim, but not dark. The location was also not very populated.

The "mood" was at least appropriate.

Her already warming cheeks have finally turned totally red, and her heart raced. But it was not a problem. She was looking outside the window and not in front of Akira.

After managing to pacify herself, she turned around and initiated a topic.

"Is this the closing event, Yuka?"

"Yup. I was expecting that people will get surprised, but not as much as you did."

"Is that a joke?" she pouted.

"Of course that's a joke. How was our surprise, anyway?"

Once again, she turned to face Akira, but now with a smile that are like the lanterns—subtle, warm, and soft—but as though illuminating.

"It's beautiful.

Thank you."

"…

It indeed is… A-Ah… R-Right…"

▪ ▪ ▪

Q: Why did Anna Sakato act flustered when she was greeted by Akira when she came to the executive office to inquire about Aomine and Sora?

A: Up there.

▪ ▪ ▪

December.

"Nii… Why did you suddenly drag me out of the house to accompany you in buying grocery for tonight's family dinner?"

"Rin's playing violin for her aunt and she'll be back later this afternoon.

And I already know that you can cook, but you still have a long way in shopping for ingredients, okay? I'll make sure that you'll have keen eyes for what is fresh and what's not."

"You're someone who can make wonders with ingredients that are not very fresh, right?"

"How about you?"

"You have a point…"

"I know that pantry things are already easy for you, so catch up to me on the meat section."

"Okay."

Her cowlick was then recognized.

"Anna? Fancy meeting you here."

"Yuka Akira…"

"I see you're doing shopping."

"I'm with Nii today," then her gaze fell to the arm that has an empty basket on it and a list on Akira's hand. "How about you, Yuka?"

"Also shopping for food since my mother asked me. I'm not good here in the market when I'm alone though," he pulled a helpless smile.

"A few minutes wouldn't hurt…"

"Do you mind if I help you for a bit, Yuka?"

"Eh? Is that really okay? You're with Gin, right?"

"If it's just for a little while. I've already gotten what I need, you see."

"I see. That'll help me a lot. Thanks!"

…

"Huh…? How in the world are you with Akira, imouto?"

The person that wasn't asked replied, "We met halfway our shopping and it just so happened that I was also going here to the meat section."

"Okay.

The gold mine was excavated already, though."

"What do you mean, Gin?"

Then Anna answered rather cheerfully, "That means that the best set of meat today has been taken already. Maybe by mothers?"

"Yeah… I can see Mom going through the crowd easily with the best ingredients."

"Heh. Hit me up on a sale, Akira. I'm willing to compete with Aunt Meg in the battlefield."

"Come again…?"

"Nii meant that price drops are like a total war zone."

"Aren't you a total housewife, Gin? What, you're training Anna to be one?"

Anna's face puffed red.

"Say that again and I'll find the filet mignon out of you."

"Sorry…"

▪ ▪ ▪

Now February is ending.

"Thanks for the lunch, Nii! I was sure that the picadillo in this house is way beyond normal!"

"Thank your Nee-chan for that and not me."

"You're still making lunch here, Nee-chan? Thank you for the meal, though."

"It kind of became a habit by now after my exams… I've got a lot of free time after CCI, you see."

"Well, for us undergraduates, our electives are now a requirement since we've done all our major assignments.

Waah…! It's so nice to be a graduating student once you're finished with all your stuff! You're all going to be sitting around the school with blankets while it's still cold!"

"Don't say that," Gin placed her hand on Anna's head. "You're going to become a second year student in a few months, so as early as now, you need to think about work training. If you finish it earlier than others, and you're set with your decision to what is to come next after high school, you'll be a slacker like Rin."

"Potato's right!"

"Now that we're done with lunch… Can I ask you something even though I'm already asking, Anna?"

"O-Okay?"

"Is something going on between you and Akira?"

Anna's cheeks immediately turned red and her eyelids opened even further.

"N-N-N-No…! Nothing! Nothing…!! W-We're just friends, that's all! Friends…!!"

The signature cowlick was also springing up and down as she panicked.

As expected, a suspicious glare from Gin directed towards her.

"Your face is contradicting what you're saying right now."

"I swear that nothing is up with us…!"

"Hmmm…???"

"I'm telling truth…! Nii, trust me…!"

"…

You know that when you came home for good, Rin and I got together the next day, right?"

"I remember you telling me that."

"How old were we at that time?"

"You were…"

"After getting to know each other quite well, Rin and I began to consider some important things. That also means that our thinking about our current relationship develops too.

There was a time when both of us almost decided to break up for a while, and for real. And that's way after our actual separation."

"…?!"

"I can see a 'why' on your face right now. The reason is because we regretted starting our relationship too early even though we're fine right now. We could have taken our time.

But what happened? My emotion and hers took the better of us. We didn't think of it very well down the line.

So a word of advice from your brother: don't make decisions that you will regret at your age. Think first before anything otherwise you will have to be harsh on yourself so that you can learn from your mistakes."

"…!"

"…Sometimes I needed to be hard on myself so that I can learn from the mistakes I did."

"I understand, Nii."

Gin was inwardly shocked. One moment her sister was all flustered. He looked away for a second, and now Anna was expressing resolve that can easily be read through her eyes that definitely resembled their mother's.

"Hahh. I'm going up to my room.

Rin, she's all yours."

"Okay!"

Suddenly, Anna was attacked by a tight embrace.

"Aww, you're just so cute as a little sister, Anna…"

"Eh?! Where did all the seriousness go to?!"

Q: Does Anna Sakato like Akira Juushiro?

A:

Chapter Message:

Excuse the author notes regarding the POVs for the next chapters. I think it's going to revert back soon since I never really used it.

Anyway, cover is updated featuring chapters 87-89.

Thank you for reading!

Next

092: Unnecessary hatred ought to be extinguished.