A Nice Change

"Ow... Taiyori..." I grunted.

"Stay still," she demanded.

With a small tong, Ayaka was rubbing a small piece of cotton drenched in alcohol to clean up my wound. I've been injured many times in the past, from knife cuts to bullet shots. However, nothing compares to the pain of alcohol on an open wound. The burning sensation is something else.

After Ayaka finished with the cotton, she rested the tong next to a first-aid kit on the bench we were sitting on. She then took a small cloth and pressed it on the wound.

Since we were still in the worksite, a bunch of people were passing us by, turning their heads and wondering why the Belle herself was dressing a wound of some random guy. To my surprise, she paid no mind to them and continued working.

Ayaka then lifted the rag and placed it back on the ground. She pulled out a bandage and began wrapping it around my hand.

"Thanks, by the way," I said. "It would've been difficult to do this myself."

"Don't mention it," she replied, though her tone was oozing with displeasure.

"Are you... mad?"

She suddenly pulled the bandage a little too hard, making me wince in pain.

"Mad?" she scoffed. "Of course I'm mad."

"Oh. I'm sorry.

"Sorry...? Sorry for what?"

She cut off the bandage and tied the end into a little knot. I lifted my hand to assess it. This looks surprisingly well done. I never knew Ayaka had this kind of skill.

"I'm not sure," I said. "I figured the only reason why you'd be mad is because of me. 

"Hah... You're apologizing, and you don't even know why," she muttered.

After putting everything back into the first-aid kit, she turned her attention back to me.

"I'm... I'm not mad at you, Tsuki," she sighed. "I guess I'm just a bit upset that you got hurt because of me."

My eyes widened for a second. Why would she get upset over something like that? It wasn't even her fault. Even then, I felt relieved. It simply means that she cares.

"Haha..." I chuckled.

"What's so funny?" she grumbled.

"Nothing. I just find it surprising that someone like you can feel that way."

"W-wha... What's that supposed to mean?!"

"Nothing."

I can't believe I got hurt like this. Even during missions, I rarely turn up with an injury. Perhaps I truly am getting rustier by the day.

"Anyway, thanks, Taiyori," I said.

"You already thanked me," she said.

"Then I'll say it again. Thanks."

"Tch..."

"Are you still mad?"

"Shut up."

She still looks slightly perturbed. How do I convince her that it's nothing she needs to worry about?

"Hm... Taiyori, look," I said as I lifted my hand. "It's not bleeding anymore."

An eyebrow raised. "Yeah? It's because I wrapped it."

"You're right. You did, and I couldn't be more grateful. What happened earlier was a shock, but you're okay, and I'm okay now, so let's leave it at that."

Finally, her frown disappeared, replaced by a surprised expression. That's certainly a positive change, but what I wasn't expecting was for her to start smiling.

"Freaking weirdo..." she scoffed.

"Feeling better?" I asked.

"Nope, not at all, but since you want me to drop it so badly, then I guess I have no choice."

"Oh? Where was this energy while you were holding that grudge from the first time we met?"

She laughed, before gently grabbing my arm and resting it on her lap. From her pocket, she pulled out a small sticker and stuck it at the end.

It's... a bunny stick with its ears forming a heart. What the heck? That was so random, and she knew it confused me because she was giving me that wicked look.

"A girl needs to play just a little bit hard to get sometimes. Otherwise, she'll end up attracting attention from the wrong types of guys."

"Hah. Are you insinuating that I'm the right type of guy?"

Ayaka crossed her legs and held a finger up to her chin. Her eyes curled as a seductive smile appeared on her face.

"Who knows?" she giggled. "If I said yes, what would you do?"

That... was certainly not the reaction I was hoping for. While I was hoping to catch her off guard, it seems she reversed it onto me.

"... Nothing," I replied, my voice shaking.

The smile on her face only grew wider. It wasn't long before I turned away to avoid eye contact, but she countered by inching closer to me.

"Really? Nothing at all?" she asked.

What's with this situation? Why is she making that face while talking to me like that? My reaction isn't making it any better. Every time I move away, she moves that much closer.

"Taiyori..." I muttered.

"Hm? What is it?" she whispered.

"We're being watched..."

She looked away from me to see that almost everyone around us was staring with wide eyes and anticipation. I wonder what's going through their heads right now. Perhaps something like... 'Why is Taiyori Ayaka looking at some random guy like that?' Because that's exactly what I'm thinking.

"Hey," Ayaka said out loud. "Don't you people have better things to do besides staring at us? Mind your own business."

Just like that, they all went back to work, careful to steer clear of the Belle's gaze.

"Hmph. Did you see that?" Ayaka asked. "All those guys who were looking at us had a hint of jealousy, and they were directed at you."

"There's nothing to be jealous of," I sighed.

"Of course there is. 'The' Taiyori Ayaka herself is giving you attention. You should feel honored."

"Must be a glitch in the matrix then, because I didn't feel anything like that."

"Oh, really...? Is that why you kept avoiding my eyes?"

"I don't know how you want me to react."

"React as any guy would. Get on your knees, bark for me, and look at me with only hearts in your eyes."

I laughed a bit. "Weren't you the one who said that I was worse than everyone else? In that case, I shouldn't do what everyone else does."

"Hah! Weirdo, for real."

Ayaka took out her phone and began snapping pictures of the worksite. I'm guessing it's for the club, but then she started doing a myriad of different poses and taking pictures of herself, which destroyed the previous narrative.

She then bumped into my shoulder and showed me her phone. "What do you think?"

"It's okay," I said.

"Tch, that was a little too quick. You didn't even look, did you?"

"Do you not see my eyes? I'm literally looking at it right now."

"Then give me your honest answer!"

"I said it's okay."

"You know, when a girl asks you what you think of a picture of herself, there are only two acceptable answers. She looks beautiful, or she looks cute. That's it."

"Uh-huh... Even if I did think that way, there's no way I would ever admit it to you of all people."

"... Asshole."

"Pft..."

Although I got to know her just a little bit better, I still can't figure her out. How did she go from hating every aspect of me to being able to sit there and crack jokes with me? It doesn't make any sense, but... It's not like I'm complaining.

"By the way, what was it that you needed help with?" I asked.

"I forgot, but there's a new tapioca shop opening up right outside of campus!" Ayaka exclaimed with enthusiasm. "Tsuki, you were gonna help me, right? Instead of that, come with me. It opens in three days."

"... This seems like a far cry from what you previously had in mind."

"I don't even know what I had in mind anymore, so you're not allowed to say that. Look, I'm not gonna beat around the bush this time. I want you to come with me, but if you don't want to, that's fine. I'll just-"

"What time?"

With just that, she began staring at me with wide eyes. However, that look of shock quickly morphed into a suspicious smile.

"... Ehhh?"

"I asked you what time we're going," I mumbled with a slight hint of regret.

"Hehe... I'm not sure. I can get my chauffeur to pick us up, so... let's meet at the main gate at... four?"

"Sounds good to me."

"Alright! Remember, Tsuki. Three days at four!"

"Yeah..."

She quickly perked up and went back to work, checking out the surrounding stalls to make sure everything was in order.

I couldn't help but smile. She really is such a strange girl. Even among the normal people I've been acquainted with in the past, she's the first to catch my interest.

I hate to admit it, but... The normal world doesn't seem that bad anymore.