At her desk in the fourth and farthest column from the door, Akira looks out the window, resting her head on her palms.

"It's already been a week since I met Matsumoto-kun at the park. Just as he said he wouldn't go there again, he didn't. Why didn't he? He seemed troubled, but why? Why was he so bent on finding out what, but not who that silhouette was? And now it's Friday. Maybe I'll get to meet him again and ask about these."

She glances at the wall clock; the clock strikes four as she turns to it. "It's about time for Hanae to come. Better get going."

She hears a girl behind her talking excitedly as she takes her things out from desk space. Akira stops for a moment, concentrating on what she says.

“Did you see the article about Shimada Araki? The company that publishes her works released one celebrating the ending of his current series...”

Akira sees two more girls standing next to her through the corner of her eyes. One of them says, “Yeah. I saw it. He’s supposed to be our age, right. Isn't it amazing that he got the job as a middle schooler?”

The first girl says again, “ He was chosen from a workshop by their head editor, right? I heard, dozens of students participated in it and at the end of the week-long workshop, the student with the best story got the job.”

“Shouldn’t it be a crime to hire a middle schooler?”

“Apparently, the contract would become active once they were in high school. But the one getting the offer could deny it if they didn’t want to go through with it when they got to high school. Also, if the first manuscript for their book wasn’t good enough, the contract would be void.”

“That’s a lot of pressure, isn’t it?”

The third girl, standing silent looking at her phone all the while retorts with a snicker, “What’s so good about this writing they published? This is a children’s fable! Are you telling me this is how they choose authors now? No wonder there are so many complaints about books not being good these days!”

Akira clenches the bag handle in her hand. "I know more than anyone that it's a children's fable!"

“But Araki-sensei’s work is great, you know. I’ve read them and I like all of them,” the first one says.

“That’s because you like everything. I could write better ones than this! He just got lucky,” she says as she sees her phone and rushes out of the classroom.

Akira forces a smile as she stands up from her seat and pulls her bag onto her shoulder. On her way past the two, she asks, “Do you two think he was just lucky to get the job?”

One of them says promptly, “ No, no. I think he’s really good.”

Turning her head towards the other girl, Akira says, “And you?”

She replies, “I-I’ve only read one of his books. I just don’t read enough books to know if someone is good or not.”

Akira chuckles hearing her response. “He only has two volumes of a series out. You’ve read half of his work already! Did you dislike the one you read?”

“I didn’t dislike it. If anything, I liked it.”

“Hmm. I see. Okay, well, see you two next week,” Akira says as she leaves the classroom.

………………………………………………………………………..

Coming out of the school building, Akira notices Hanae at the school entrance waving at her. She walks past dozens of boys and girls, chatting in small groups, to reach the gate.

“I didn’t know Shikiori High School was co-ed,” Hanae says under her breath as Akira comes close enough to hear her.

“That’s the first thing you have to say?” Akira says, “ Well, yeah, it is. Why didn’t you know? I thought you were going to apply for this school.”

“No, I wasn’t. This school doesn’t have a swimming club, right?”

“Ahh… I see.”

“But it is a bit strange that I haven’t been here even though we’re in our junior year.”

“Well, we haven’t gone home from here at all. We’d only either meet somewhere else or at our homes. So, it makes sense, right?”

“Hmm…yeah.”

Hearing a buzz from her bag, Hanae takes out her phone. “It’s from Fujii-kun. Ah! I forgot to tell him that I was going to come here! Is he waiting for me?”

“Why didn’t you te-” Akira stops as she notices Hanae’s expression changing. Akira says in a higher pitch, “Hanae-chan? Are you angry?”

“He says he’s got to take that guy home! So he apologized and told me to go home if I was waiting.”

“You weren’t waiting, so what’s the problem? Are you suspicious of him?”

“Wha- No. Why would I be angry!” Hanae’s face now turning bright red.

“That question was about twenty seconds ago, you know.” “So?”

“I’m just a little suspicious.”

“WHY ARE YOU LIVING IN THE PAST, HANAE-CHAN?” “Of what? Do you think he’s going somewhere with another girl?”

“No. My problem is with that guy!”

“The one he talked about the message? Maybe he’s ill or someth-wait a minute, you think your boyfriend prefers guys? Then why are you going out with him? Or rather, why is he going out with you?”

“I don’t think he’s like that,” her voice wavering after hearing Akira. “ But if he would go after anyone else at school, it would probably be that guy. Fujii-kun almost acts like he’s his dad. Always worrying. They’re always together too!”

“It doesn’t sound too suspicious to me. He just sounds like a good but worrywart friend.” “You’re probably thinking too much, Hanae. If there’s a problem, why don’t you ask Fujii-kun directly? That solves it faster than worrying about being cheated on so weirdly!” Akira starts laughing as soon as she finishes saying that.

“Hey! Don’t laugh at me for that! What was I supposed to do? They were like this even before I started going out with Fujii-kun. That person even came and told me that Fujii-kun was a good guy and to take care of Fujii-kun after we started dating. However I think about it, it was like he was talking to his rival in love after losing the battle for Fujii-kun.”

“Pfft…..haha.Battle for Fujii-kun? That’s hilarious! It could almost be the name of a battle in any history book!” “You’re worrying too much, child. Rest your mind and put trust in him. I do not think he is a bad man. And if he does you any wrong, leave him.”

“Akira, why are you talking like you’re my grandmother or something?” “Ahh.. you’re no fun Hanae! Just see what happens and if he does anything suspicious or acts strangely, ask him. Don’t convolute these things in your mind, okay?”

“Hmm…okay. That does sound more rational.” Hanae says as they reach an intersection.

“I want to check something here. Let’s go to that bookstore there.”

They walk into the nearly empty bookstore. As they go in, an employee welcomes them.

“You can take a look around if you want to, Hanae. I just need to talk to the manager here. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” Akira walks straight to the counter and starts talking to the bearded manager who was leaning back on a chair.

“It’s probably about Akira-chan’s new book that’s supposed to come out soon.” Hanae starts wandering about the aisles. After repeating the cycle of taking different books out, flipping through a few pages and keeping it back a few times, she sees Akira near the door, calling her. They both get out of the store when she arrives.

“They told me to come back tomorrow to get the rest,” Akira hands her a bag with two books in it. “ Nii-san just to told me to get some groceries. I’ll drop by the store there. You go on ahead. I’ll be back home in about fifteen minutes.”

“The rest? You were going to get more?” “O-okay. Are Oba-san or Oji-san going to be back today?”

“I don’t think so. It’s just Nii-san and Kaoru-san at home for now.”

“I see. Well then, I’ll head there now.”

“Okay. See you in a bit.”