SCPK 16

Chapter 16

Going Home

The first day of summer classes ended, and it was time for everyone to go home.

Since the Special Advancement Course puts academics first, participation in club activities is pretty relaxed. Clubs like baseball or soccer, with intense practice schedules, basically don’t recommend group sports to their members.
It can’t be helped, since most members are from the Physical Education or General Courses.

Most students in the Special Advancement Course are in cultural clubs. Both Seiya and Yumisaki-san belong to cultural clubs too.
I, on the other hand, have been in track and field since middle school, so I’m in the track club.

This school’s track club isn’t that strong, so it’s pretty laid-back. In a way, that kind of environment suits me just fine.
Of course, if I slack off too much the coach gets mad, so I do show up from time to time.

“Still… today’s practice was in the morning, huh.”

Seiya said he had a part-time job and rushed home.
Well, summer vacation is prime time to earn money, so it can’t be helped.
Tomorrow’s practice starts at noon, so I can go then… but now I’ve got nothing to do.

The school library isn’t open during summer vacation… maybe I’ll go to the public library instead.

At that moment, my phone buzzed in my pocket.

“It’s from Tsukuyo. ‘Track club… no practice today? You’re free then?’ Yeah, that’s right—send.”

Message sent. Oh—another one came right after. Wait, this is—!

“Then… would you like to go home together?”

Kaminagi Tsukuyo is undeniably cute. Out of a hundred people, probably ninety-nine would shout “She’s adorable!” without hesitation.
As proof, her twin brother, Kaminagi Seiya, was chosen as “Mr. Kōchū” at last year’s school festival event.
This year, there’s a high chance Tsukuyo will be chosen “Miss Kōchū.”

And me, being asked “Want to go home together?” by a girl like that… what kind of guy am I, really?
I’ve heard she has an unofficial fan club. I feel like one day they’re going to ambush me in a dark alley.

Maybe I should’ve just pretended not to notice at the start and gone home.
I switch from my indoor shoes to outdoor ones at the shoe lockers. Is Tsukuyo already here?

“Taiyō-san, sorry to keep you waiting.”

Since only Special Advancement Course students are here today, the shoe lockers are practically empty.
Normally, if a girl like Tsukuyo were waiting for a guy here, a riot would break out. The only boy allowed to stand beside her is her brother, Seiya.

The girls’ blazers at Kōchū are white-based with an attractive red-checked skirt. The red ribbon at the chest acts as an accent.
Just seeing Tsukuyo wear it turns her into a breathtaking photo subject.
I’d love to photograph her at least once but…

We pass through the school gate and start walking home.
The Kaminagi house is between the school and my place, so we walk together until the very end.

“I’m heading to the library today. How about you, Tsukuyo?”
“I’m sorry, I promised to hang out with friends today… If I’d known your club was off, I’d have turned them down.”
“Don’t worry about that! You didn’t want to go to the library that badly, did you?”
“Not exactly…”

Tsukuyo let out a small sigh.
Her chestnut-colored hair flowed beautifully each time the wind blew.

I want to touch it again… What am I thinking? Pervert! I just can’t forget the feel of it from that time on the crowded train.

“Taiyō-san?”
“It’s nothing!”

Change the subject.

“Seiya took off in a flash, huh? I was surprised to see him running off like that.”
“Ahaha, I saw him at the shoe lockers too. My brother really should calm down a bit.”

Wait a second.

“When did you get to the shoe lockers, Tsukuyo? Didn’t you just say ‘Sorry to keep you waiting’?”
“…Th-that… th-th-that’s because… class ended early! That’s right!”
“O-okay…”

With her face red and those big round double-lidded eyes glaring at me so earnestly, I couldn’t press further.
In silence, we arrived at the Kaminagi house.

“Well then… see you tomorrow.”
“Ah, Taiyō-san.”

She stopped me in front of the apartment building.

“Are you free this weekend?”
“Uh… let’s see. I don’t think I have club activities.”
“Then… would you mind spending some time with me?”
“Shopping? Or do you need a hand with something?”

Tsukuyo shook her head and looked straight at me, serious.

“What if… I said I just wanted to hang out with you?”
“Eh!? Um… maybe after I check my schedule—”
“No. If I let you go now, you’ll start thinking of reasons to refuse, so no.”

Damn it, she knows how my mind works. This is Seiya’s influence, isn’t it?
I don’t have anything planned anyway, and it would be rude to refuse for no reason.

“Okay. I’ll keep my schedule open. It’s the weekend, so we can work out the details later.”
“Yes!”

Tsukuyo beamed happily.
With any other girl, I’d stubbornly refuse… but with Tsukuyo, I can’t help wanting to say yes.

I waved goodbye to her and headed home.
Ah—Seiya left something behind. I should give it to Tsukuyo…

I rushed back to the apartment and started up the stairs—when I saw Tsukuyo sitting there.

“I did it… I actually invited him… my heart’s still pounding…”
“Tsukuyo?”
“Eek!!”

With a shriek, Tsukuyo jumped up and turned around in a panic. Then she glared at me fiercely.

“Taiyō-san… you’re a perv!”
“Why!?”

Tsukuyo dashed up the stairs and into her house.

The forgotten item…
All I could do was stand there, frozen.