Chapter 118 – Unexpected Murmurs

Days passed after I asked Amami-san for a favor. Today was Friday.

As my circle of friends got bigger, I spent a lot of time with them after school, but on this particular day, Umi and I would spend our time together.

Ever since we became lovers, we hung out together practically every day, so our Friday gathering stopped being special, but everyone around us would let us have the day to ourselves, so we decided to take advantage of it.

[Asanagi: What's the plan for today, Maki? Keeping it slow like usual?]

[Maehara: Mhm. I don't feel like going out today.]

[Asanagi: So you'll be doing pervy things with me indoors? Jeez, Maki, you're such a perv.]

[Maehara: I didn't say that.]

[Asanagi: …So you don't want to do it?]

[Maehara: …Okay, look…]

[Asanagi: So you want to do it~]

[Asanagi: C'mon, I'm your girlfriend~ Just be honest with me~]

[Maehara: You're such a pain in the ass…]

[Asanagi: Coward~]

It had been four months since we started dating and since it was our first time in a relationship, we did a lot of things other than kissing for… research purposes… Anyway, I enjoyed my time with her. After we settled down with our feelings, we started trying to learn about each other more deeply.

Though, our activities were mostly limited to what people classified as flirting, so at most we only touched each other's bodies.

I had been upholding my promise to Sora-san and Daichi-san to not get carried away, but honestly, it was getting harder and harder to uphold that promise. 

Things were okay for now, but in three months, the summer vacation would start… Who knows what would happen by then…

Well, let's not worry too much about the future.

[Maehara: Oh, right, I have something for you.]

[Asanagi: Hm?]

[Asanagi: Something for me? You just gave me a birthday present the other day, you're spoiling me a lot this month, hm?~]

[Maehara: I'm feeling generous so be grateful. Besides, it doesn't cost me any money this time.]

[Asanagi: Is that so? So, what is it?]

[Maehara: Hm… 'A disgusting guy'… Is what I would call it… I guess…]

[Asanagi: Huh?]

I expected that response. I didn't know what else to call it, so I'll leave it at that.

Besides, it was my honest impression when I received that thing from Amami-san.

[Asanagi: I have a bad feeling about this, but is it something that I should be looking forward to?]

[Maehara: Kinda… But it isn't a big of a deal though, so don't expect much.]

[Asanagi: Sure sure.]

[Maehara: Well, if you ended up hating it, I'll give you something else. Just tell me what you want, as long as I have the money for it, I'll buy it for you,]

[Asanagi: Okay, I'll make sure to tell you that I hate whatever you'll be giving me.]

[Maehara: Now that's cheating. At least take a look at it first.]

In any case, I'll probably plan a shopping date for next week.

After giving Umi a heads-up about my plans for the day, I shoved my phone into my pocket.

"How did it go, Maki-kun?"

"She said she's looking forward to it… Honestly, it gave me more pressure and anxiety than anything…"

"Hahaha, I see. But, don't worry about it much, Maki-kun. It's Umi we're talking about, she'll love everything that you give her. You know the birthday present that you gave her? Ever since she got it from you, she's always–"

"Hm? Always what?"

"…Ah…"

Amami-san's expression immediately hardened. She almost spilled an important secret it seemed.

"…Sorry, Maki-kun, please forget about what I said just now…"

"That just made me even more curious… What is it about Umi–"

"Please, Maki-kun! My forehead can only take so much…"

Her forehead came into my view. Her originally white forehead had some reddish tinge to it for some reason.

"…Fine, I'll pretend I didn't hear that…"

"T-Thank you…"

She was talking about the birthday present. I expected that Umi would like it, but it seemed like she liked it more than I expected.

I would be really happy if Umi would just say it directly to me that she liked it that much, but well… I guess she had her reasons.

"Well, I don't want to be a nuisance, so I'll be going ahead now! Good luck, Maki-kun! Also, tell me everything about it later!"

"Mm. Thank you, Amami-san."

"No problem~"

With her angelic smile, she gave me a small wave and left the classroom immediately.

I couldn't get anything done without her, so I was really glad that she was willing to help me out.

If it was for her friends, she would help them without much thought. It was partly because of her that Umi and I were dating now. It was also because of her help that I was able to pick a present for Umi.

That was why, if something were to happen to her, I would do my best to help her.

Well, I doubt that anything will happen to her anytime soon.

Or so I thought as I watched her back as she left the classroom and walked down the hallway.

'—Tch, what's with that bitch…'

"Huh?"

Right before Amami-san left my sight, I heard someone muttering something like that.

There were still a lot of people inside the class and I was occupied with my own thoughts, so I didn't know who exactly said that.

They didn't say any names in particular, but the hostility behind the muttering was clear.

And I had a feeling that those words were directed toward Amami-san.

At that time, a message from Umi came.

[Asanagi: Sorry, did you wait for long?]

[Asanagi: Our class will be over soon, so wait for me~]

[Maehara: Mm. I'll wait for you in the hallway.]

I was concerned about it for a moment, then I remembered that both Umi and Amami-san had experienced this kind of thing often back in middle school. I guess I could let it go for now.

I still had to tell Umi about it though.