Minato’s Future and That Person’s Now

"Takumi, tell me what kind of a guy Taniguchi is."

The day after Minato was called out by Taniguchi, Minato approached Takumi to ask what kind of person he was.

Takumi was also in the classroom when Minato was called, so it was easy for him not having to explain the situation to anyone in particular.

"I knew at some point he would contact you, but it was sooner than I expected."

Takumi answered Minato's question with a reluctant look on his face.

From the way he spoke, he was convinced that Taniguchi would contact Minato.

"Did you expect him to get involved with me?"

"Taniguchi tried to approach Ninomiya-san and was turned down once. He was asked not to talk to her at school, let alone hang out with her after school."

"I see, so that's why he wanted information about Ninomiya from me."

Apparently, Taniguchi had spoken to Airi before, but was refused even friendship. And then he tried to use the next lenghty move.

Airi had gotten ulterior motives from a lot of people, and she didn't like it, so she responded to boys coldly. As such, he might be one of them.

He thought for a moment that perhaps he should ask Airi for more details about the time she spoke to Taniguchi, but then decided that there was no need to rehash something she didn't want to hear.

When Minato made up his mind about yesterday's events in his head, Takumi lowered his eyebrows in concern.

"I'm sure Minato handled it calmly because it wasn't a big deal, but did you feel okay yesterday?"

"…Well, sort of. If you put it that way, does that mean there is something wrong with Taniguchi?"

In reality, he was a bit sarcastic, but the conversation would not progress if he told Takumi about this complaint.

Based on the way he handled the surroundings and what Takumi said before he went to the back of the school building yesterday, he must be someone who had something going on.

When he suppressed the anxiety in his heart and questioned him, predicting his character, Takumi's face became even more bitter.

"He's a two-sided guy. He knows he's good-looking, but he doesn't brag about it. He is soft when dealing with those around him and is popular with good-looking people, but he will give a cold shoulder to those who are blatantly inferior in appearance."

"For example, to an average guy like me?"

"He's better than Amamiya though, as long as he doesn't go on a tirade. He's a very selective person. He thinks that the only person who can be with him is the one who is suitable for him."

"What an overconfident man. Maybe I've caught his eye?"

As far as he was concerned, it wasn't a good thing to be noticed by that kind of person.

When he became concerned and asked, Takumi shook his head and denied it.

"No, it's probably fine. He wouldn't want to ruin his image, so I don't think he'll harass you."

"I'm glad to hear that. I was afraid that I might get thumbtacks planted in my shoes."

If it was only mental, Minato would just have to endure it, but if it was physical, it would interfere with his studies, so he would have to stop him.

If that were to happen, he was sure Airi would be furious, but even yesterday he had worried her so much that he wanted to keep things quiet.

From the way Takumi said it, it didn't sound like that was going to happen, so he let out a sigh of relief. Then, Takumi's face turned dumbfounded.

"I don't think anyone does that kind of thing nowadays. …If it's all right with Minato, could I ask what kind of conversation you had with Taniguchi?"

"Just to be safe, don't spread it around, okay?"

"Of course. I'm simply concerned."

"Then I'll tell you. First–"

He had nothing in particular to hide from Takumi, so he explained honestly, and Takumi looked at Minato with admiration.

"He probably judged that it would be useless to try to get into Minato's good side, so maybe his last words were just a sigh of defeat."

"I wish it was, but I don't really appreciate that kind of thing."

As Minato had expected, he got a lot of accusations, even if they were not direct, and it did not make him feel good.

The fact that this was no longer the case must have been a benefit of Minato's firm conversation with Taniguchi.

When he let out a sigh of relief and complained, Takumi raised his eyebrows in concern.

"As I said before, Taniguchi won't do anything to you, and if that guy spreads the word about what happened yesterday, people might stop calling Ninomiya-san. But there might be more harsh glances and gossip than before."

"…You mean I seem to have a monopoly on my relationship with Ninomiya, even though I don't intend to? That being said, I can't do anything about it, and that's the hard part."

By refusing his offer, people around him might say that Kujo was a selfish guy who wanted to stay with Ninomiya-san, even refusing Taniguchi's request.

However, even if Minato raised his voice and said "I have no such intention," it would not be convincing, since it was clear that he was Airi's closest opposite-sex friend.

In this case, Minato's evaluation of the future would depend on how Taniguchi would spread the word about yesterday.

When he said " yareyare " with dismay, Takumi looked bitter.

"It's true that Taniguchi is going to expand on the subject, but even if he were to say that Minato is a 'good guy with a good heart for his friends' without criticizing him too harshly, that wouldn't change the jealous look you're getting, would it?"

"I don't mind that much. I'm ready. …But if he's so jealous, why doesn't he just try harder to talk to Ninomiya?"

"I'm sure you know this, it's because no one else has been able to do it that Minato is attracting so much attention. They say that rumors are a form of gossip, but even if you have a hard time with the stares and gossip, I'm sure it'll settle down soon."

"I hope so."

While talking with Takumi like this, the break time passed as he hoped that the passing of time would calm down the surroundings.

And after school, although the amount of stares didn't change, he was not called out like yesterday.

He walked out of the school building from the shoe rack to head to his part-time job, feeling glad that nothing had happened to him today.

Then, he saw someone he really didn't want to meet.

The other party probably didn't want to meet Minato either, and the awkwardness showed on his face.

Minato tried to ignore him, but apparently the way to Minato's part-time job and his way home were the same, so their feet inevitably went in the same direction.

He was glancing at Minato, so Minato let out a sigh and spoke to him, feeling that there was nothing else he could do.

"Don't be so alarmed, Amamiya. No one is going to eat you."

"…It seems you know my name."

"You're famous for a lot of things."

"…I guess so."

The Amamiya of today had not a shadow of the intensity of the first time Minato met him, and he was clearly not in high spirits.

Despite the fact that he had so many followers, he was now alone, so it was likely that they had given up on him.

Minato thought he deserved it, but he had no intention of mocking him for that.

He also thought that there might even be retaliation from him, but the way he was sinking now, he might not even have the energy to do that.

As they were, he might as well ask what had happened since then.

It would be an act of rubbing salt in Amamiya's wounds, but Minato should have the right to do so since he was the one who suffered the inconvenience.

"So, you've been left out of the group since then."

"…Yeah, they all walked away."

"I see. With your personality, I figured that would happen."

Minato was not on good terms with Amamiya, and if anything, he was the one who had hurt Airi, so Minato's mouth easily spoke the words of condemnation.

Hearing Minato's uncompromising words, Amamiya's face clouded over.

"Well, I guess you're right. …Honestly, I thought you'd be more angry with me. I said some pretty horrible things to you."

Minato honestly didn't care that he made fun of his appearance.

He was facing that very problem right now, and being apologized to by Amamiya would not solve anything.

But if he felt any guilt at all, he should at least apologize to Airi.

"Being angry at you won't heal Ninomiya's wounds. If you feel sorry, then apologize to Ninomiya."

"Yes, I'll make sure I apologize."

"…You're not even retaliating against me? I'm the one who put you in this situation, you know?"

Minato was prepared to hear at least one complaint from him for speaking out so bluntly, but Amamiya didn't express even the slightest bit of anger towards Minato.

When Minato asked him about it, Amamiya shook his head.

"I'm not angry, those guys told me, 'No matter how good your face is, with your personality, sooner or later this was going to happen, I can't follow you anymore.'"

"If that's what they thought, they should have said so to you. It's pretty bad of a character to just suck up and say good-bye when trouble comes your way."

It's not a very good friendship if you don't pay attention to what is wrong with your friends and just use them before leaving.

Amemiya chuckled, as if Minato's complaint rang a bell.

"Really, what was I looking at? I thought that if I had money and a good face, that would be enough, and this is the result. People whom I thought were my friends left me, and girls started looking at me like I am an enemy. What am I supposed to do?"

"I don't know. How would I know?"

"…I guessed so."

Amemiya sounded lost.

It was strange that the one who hurt asked the one who was hurt for help, though Minato had no intention of helping Amamiya.

But he couldn't bear to see him alone, so perhaps a little bit of extra help was acceptable.

"It's my own opinion, but why don't you go apologize to all the people you've hurt?"

"…I know it sounds awful, but I don't think I remember some of their names or faces."

"That's really awful. Then go talk to the girls you remember, and if you get called out for it, that's the price of your past behavior, and you'll just have to accept it."

"Yes."

"I'm sure they'll say some pretty harsh things to you, so if that breaks your heart, I'll at least be there to talk to you."

"…Are you sure? I said all those terrible things to Senpai and Ninomiya-san."

Amamiya looked at Minato as if he was stunned. He probably thought it was something impossible.

However, Minato did not find this surprising.

"If you had stayed like before, I wouldn't have wanted to talk to you even if I had to die. You seem to be doing a good job reflecting on what you did, so it's a different story. …I said this and that, but you have to decide for yourself what you're going to do. I don't want you to blame me."

Minato didn't intend to treat people who were trying to change badly.

But he didn't want to be friends with them, so this would be the right place to drop the matter.

When Minato implicitly said, "You're not so bad now," Amamiya's eyes widened in surprise.

"…Yes, thank you very much. I am sure that Ninomiya-san accepted Senpai so well because of who you are. I know you don't like me saying this, but please do your best regarding Ninomiya-san."

"You know what? I'll do my best even if you don't tell me in the first place."

He was taken aback by Amamiya's words, but responded firmly.

It had only been a month or so, but he seemed to have changed a lot. Whether it would be for the better or not was up to Amamiya from now on, but it shouldn't be a bad thing.

He thought that if he had changed so much, maybe someday someone would accept Amamiya.