V2 - Saki Akito Won't be Denied: Part Two

Rain wasn’t as frequent anymore, daylight lasted longer into the evening, and the sun’s heat could no longer be ignored.

The rainy season was coming to a close and summer began taking the stage. There was a bonus as well—clear blue skies. Something Katsumi always enjoyed.

Physics had just ended and it was the short few minutes in between two classes where Katsumi had to rush across campus to his next.

I’m getting sick of this… Physics, then I have to almost sprint to the other end of campus… then back… and I have another class on the other side again.

Katsumi was in a halfway-jog, something that at the beginning of the semester doing so would cause him to be completely out-of-breath. However, now, he could almost make it across entirely without stopping because he’s had to do it everyday.

Today though, not even after a minute of jogging, he slowed to a walk.

In the sea of students crossing the campus, one grabbed Katsumi’s gaze.

To anyone else, their head of hair would’ve blended in with the crowd,.  But to Katsumi, the short black bob-cut was impossible to miss.

She walked with two other students, Saki and Yui, presumably to their next class.

It feels like there’s an entire world between us… How many days has it been now since I got back? Seven? It’s already been a week…

The day after they got back from their trip Mayumi requested a change in seats. She now sat on a far front corner of the room in any class they shared.

Katsumi settled into his usual seat in the campus café. Despite the concerns of Mayumi and their now broken relationship clouding his head, he still had the responsibility of homework.

Shortly after opening his laptop, a drawn-out sigh escaped his mouth. Even though he felt a stronger need to do his homework, it didn't make doing it any less of a pain.

Katsumi lifted his head and propped his chin on his hand. To his left, a few tables over was Saki and her friend—

Who is that? M-something?

After a moment of thought that name came to him.

Kitagawa Mai… right… I think she’s involved with the student government…

Without realizing it, he ended up staring at the two for nearly a minute, inadvertently eavesdropping on their conversation. Somehow, he got lucky and they didn’t notice—otherwise, Saki most likely would have torn into him in front of everyone.

The last thing I need happening…

While he looked away, he couldn't help but continue to listen.

“Did you see Jackson over the weekend?” The girl next to Saki, Mai Kitagawa asked.

Saki sighed. “No… He said he was busy this weekend. Doing something with family. But when I was out on Saturday I saw him with another girl!”

“Isn’t he your boyfriend? You should confront him about that… He might be cheating,” Mai wore a look of concern.

That’d be really funny if he was… You deserve it. Katsumi thought.

“W-well,” Saki stuttered. “It could’ve been his family. Jackson isn’t like that.”

Mai raised an eyebrow. “Was the girl Japanese or white like Jackson?"

“I-it wouldn’t really matter anyways Mai… We aren’t official so it’s like… It’s not like he’s cheating on me.” She gave a nervous smile.

“Huh?” Katsumi raised his head as Saki’s last sentence caught his full attention

Saki whipped around with a terrible glare on her face. So quickly in fact it was almost as if she’d known Katsumi was listening in from the start.

She was staring daggers at him, so he had to come up with an excuse fast. “Uh— I uh, just remembered the name of a song I forgot… Sorry…”

She gave him one last disgusted look before turning back to her conversation.

Oh my god! What kind of excuse is that! I sounded like a complete idiot.

“Anyways,” Saki continued. “He’s been the one pursuing me, so he’ll come soon enough. That really wasn’t anything to worry about.”

That’s just a lie, isn’t it, Akito? No way Kitagawa believes this…

“I think you’re probably right.” Mai quickly believed her.

…Wow.

“It’s just, I wish I could know him better without him knowing… I bet that sounds kinda weird.” Saki lightly laughed.

“I get what you mean. So you can surprise them with how much you guys actually match together, right?”

“Yeah, exactly. I don’t know how.”

Mai thought for a moment, glancing at Katsumi as she did. “I think I know a way… You might not like it though.”

“Huh? Really? What is it?”

She leaned into Saki’s ear and whispered something, making sure Katsumi couldn’t hear.

A few seconds later a dozen students filed into the classroom and the next class started.