A few days after the movie outing, it was Friday. We were one week from finals — staff room was closed and clubs were on pause.
“Some subjects are bad this round, going to actually have to study.”
“Right? Failing one is a hassle.”
“Kenji and Shou say that every term.”
“Yeah, unlike me and Yuito, those two are perpetually scraping by.”
After homeroom I was hanging out in the back of the classroom with my usual three. Kaito and I get decent grades; Kenji and Shou are regulars on the failing-marks list.
“My physics basics is bad, Kenji’s struggling on Math B — help us out if you can.”
“For real, please.”
“If you two come bearing sincerity I’ll consider it.”
I smiled at their pleading eyes. Teaching is work — they should offer something in return.
”…Yuito’s actually kind of a sadist.”
“Maybe that’s how you reeled in Yuki-senpai — gap moe?”
“Tell us the technique.”
“Don’t — close in with those eyes.”
That spooked me a bit. (Frankly all three are popular enough — they’re fine.) After more banter, I said bye and headed to the library.
I can’t focus at home, so I study in the school library. Kano knows this, so she wouldn’t come today.
I got out my Math 2B problem book and started on the test range. Basics had clicked in class, simple problems flew. Applied problems were also fine — going well.
I lost time and was nearly at the school-closing bell. I packed up, changed into outdoor shoes, and started for home.
I’d been planning to go straight home but realized I wanted a new problem book for finals prep, so I detoured to the bookstore.
Decent-sized place — wide selection. I was in the textbook/workbook section when someone spoke from behind.
“Yuito?”
“Oh — Kano-san. Strange running into you here.”
“I’m about to be dragged to a goukon.”
She looked depressed. Apparently not enthused.
(I didn’t want her at a mixer either. The image of her enjoying herself in that setting made me weirdly uneasy.)
A black-haired cool-beauty type walked up.
“Hey, Kano.”
“Oh — Mayo-san, evening.”
“G-good evening.”
I figured she was Kano’s friend and greeted her, slightly nervous. Staying on good terms with the friends of your potential girlfriend can’t hurt.
The black-haired Mayo-san smiled at me.
“That uniform — you’re at Shinshiroike High?”
“Yes.”
“Thought so. So — do you happen to know who I am?”
“Um —”
“Yuito’s in his second year and you graduated two years ago, Mayo-san — you wouldn’t have overlapped.”
Kano threw me a lifeline.
“Right, too bad.”
“Mayo-san was our student council president.”
“Wow — that’s impressive.”
(I don’t actually know what student councils do but president sounds prestigious.)
“This meeting must mean something — if you ever run into trouble, your senpai here will have your back.”
“Thank you. Hopefully nothing comes up.”
“Yeah, that’d be ideal.”
As we chatted, Kano was giving me a flat look. We were just talking?
“By the way — one of the guys for tonight’s goukon just bailed. Kano, do you know anyone who could fill in?”
“I’ll ask around, but probably not.”
“Right, finding someone same-day on short notice is a stretch.”
It had been a 3-on-3 mixer; one guy short would unbalance it. Not my problem.
”…Oh — if there are no scheduling issues, what if your underclassman friend here joined?”
“What — me?!”
I made a sound at Mayo-san’s complete left-field suggestion.