"What's wrong?"
Hayato didn't quite understand why Nanao Akane cared so much about Yukino Fuyumi. Ever since she learned that she was her neighbor, her eyes had barely left the other party.
"...Why are you wearing so much?"
Nanao Akane had just noticed this. She had initially thought it was because the air conditioning on the train was too strong, making Miss Yukino uncomfortable.
Many girls were sensitive to cold, which was normal.
But it seemed a bit strange that she was still wearing a thin wool cardigan after getting off the train. Although the temperature in Hachijuu Inaba was indeed not as hot as in Tokyo, it wasn't yet deep autumn.
"Oh, she's sick."
Hayato's lies came out effortlessly.
No wonder this girl cared so much about Yukino Fuyumi... In Hayato's eyes, Yukino Fuyumi's wool cardigan was like her true form, integrating perfectly with her. But to outsiders, it wasn't so.
"Sick... Is it serious?" Nanao Akane was startled.
"...Not serious, she said," Hayato said vaguely.
Wearing a wool sweater in the middle of summer, if she said it wasn't serious, then it seemed she really had some major illness. But if she said it was too serious, it might cause Nanao Akane's worry, so Hayato's answer was ambiguous.
Nanao Akane thought.
She still felt something was off.
Wearing a wool sweater in the middle of summer, she must be seriously ill, but Miss Yukino told Kobayashi-chan it was 'not serious'... Plus, she was Kobayashi-chan's 'ex-girlfriend'.
Could it be that she had a terminal illness and didn't want to burden Hayato...
Nanao Akane's dangerous thought had just emerged.
The two of them walked out of the station.
It was already nearing dusk, and the sunset was a crimson hue.
A gentle breeze rustled the leaves on both sides of the road.
The temperature in Hachijuu Inaba was indeed much cooler than in Shibuya.
"Akane..."
A weak voice called out to Nanao Akane.
Hayato had heard from Nanao Akane before that someone was coming to pick them up this time.
Actually, neither of them had much luggage, just two backpacks.
For other necessities, Hayato just sent them by express delivery. But it seemed that someone always came to pick up Nanao Akane whenever she returned, and the people here enthusiastically insisted, "Anyway, Yuta is free, so let him make this trip."
And so, they saw a masked boy slowly walking towards them.
"I told you you didn't need to come. There's nothing you need to carry," Nanao Akane said to him with a smile.
The boy was wearing a thin shirt with a sports jacket over it, and a mask over his mouth. He was coughing 'cough, cough' as he walked over.
"That's what I told Mom too," the boy said helplessly. "And I didn't go to school because I was recovering from an illness... She actually said I was 'free,' it's so infuriating."
"Recovering from an illness? Are you sick?" Hayato interjected appropriately.
"Ah, yes, seasonal flu... Ah, but don't worry, I got checked at the hospital yesterday, and it's already negative. Now it's just a sore throat, it won't spread... Oh, and my sense of taste hasn't recovered either, food doesn't taste like anything... Oh, this must be Brother Xiaolin, right?"
The boy smiled and looked at Hayato.
Hayato had a backpack slung over his shoulder, black headphones wrapped around his ears, and the collar of his white shirt was open, revealing his fair collarbone.
His back was straight, and he stood tall and slender. The setting sun cast a dazzling halo over him, making him glow.
A trendy, stylish man...
This was Tokyo... Was this a boy from the big city!?
Sour, so sour! Perhaps the contrast was too strong, the boy was almost in tears.
"'Didn't go to school' means you haven't started summer vacation yet?" Hayato asked.
"Yeah, we're studying until the 21st," the boy said.
"Oh, so it's finals week now? If you don't go to school at this time, the final exams will probably be very tough," Hayato said kindly.
Final exams...
Bitter, so bitter! The boy's eyes welled up with tears.
"By the way, Yuta, let me formally introduce you. This is Hayato, he's my..." Nanao Akane's eyebrows were shy, as if she was a bit embarrassed.
"Boyfriend," Hayato had no choice but to interject, helplessly.
"Yosh!" Nanao Akane clenched her fist, looking as if she had achieved a great success.
"...You deliberately waited for me to say it, didn't you?" Hayato rolled his eyes. "Next time, I won't pick you up. Let's see what you'll do."
Sweet, so sweet! The boy was in tears.
I haven't recovered my sense of taste, but you guys don't have to help me this much!
"This is Yamano Yuta, a friend I've known since childhood," Nanao Akane said.
"Hello..."
Hayato extended his hand, and their palms met.
...Such a familiar name, Hayato thought.
...
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