What Am I Doing?

"Shouldn't you have celebrated with them?"

"So you were watching… Well, they won the game, not me."

"It was your tactics."

"It was them who followed it."

"But it was you who straightened them up when they were fighting with each other."

"…"

In a secluded ramen shop on a beach somewhere in Chiba, a somewhat heated back and forth between a student and a teacher was happening. While waiting for their ramen order to arrive, Shiki-sensei was questioning Kei as to why he left the girls' team victory celebration.

"…I'd just spoil the celebration mood. Trust me… They're better off celebrating without me."

"And here's the million-dollar question. Why would you say that?"

"Reasons."

"Haah… I know it's not my place to pry, so I won't. But you really have to stop hurting yourself like this, it's hurting others in the process."

"Who did I actually hurt? They won the game, that's all that matters in the end."

"Do you honestly not know how Chihaya felt?"

"…"

Watching everything unfold, it was clear to Shiki-sensei how and what Chihaya was actually feeling. From her breaking down during the team's infighting, her happy and relieved face when Kei showed up, to her looking down and disappointed when she saw that Kei had left them once again.

"Haah… You're very smart, Amane, but at the same time very much an airhead."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Of course, I'm not giving you any hints. If you don't notice it yourself then you don't deserve it."

"Hmm?"

As the conversation finally turned calm once more, Matsuko returned with their ramen orders. Shiki-sensei had actually ordered her highly rated Tonkotsu ramen with extra hard noodles. The fragrance from the broth amazed Kei as he hadn't had ramen like this before.

"Is it to your taste?"

"…"

At the moment, Kei couldn't utter a single word. All that he could feel was a nostalgic feeling. It has been a long time since Kei had had any dinner with anyone that was older than him, and it was clear to Shiki-sensei when she looked at his face. As she continued to look at him, Kei started chomping down the food with a quicker pace. One would think that he was a lost boy on the streets who had just gotten a free meal.

"Take it easy. I can order more if you'd like."

"…"

Looking at Kei, Shiki-sensei gave a small sigh and didn't press the matter any further. After having a quiet evening for the rest of their meal, the two of them left the shop.

"Well? What did you think?"

"Hm?"

"The ramen. It was good, wasn't it?"

"It was okay, I guess."

"Only okay?!"

Shiki-sensei spent the rest of the trip home ranting about how Kei didn't truly know his ramen. It came as somewhat of a culture shock for him to find that his own teacher whom everyone fears is like this. When they finally reached his home, Shiki-sensei finally stopped talking about ramen.

"Oy, Amane." Shiki-sensei spoke up just as Kei got out of the car.

"Hm?"

"You really have to stop hurting the ones who want and choose to be close to you. Not those who flock to you, but those who actually genuinely care about you. Even if you think you're not hurting them."

"…"

"Haah… just think about what I said, okay?"

"…Okay…"

***

When Kei finally reached his apartment, he was all but exhausted. However, he noticed a figure sitting in front of his apartment door. As he walked closer to the figure, he noticed the person was Mai judging from her favourite hoodie that she almost always wore to her apartment. She appeared to be sleeping at the moment.

"Oyyyy… Mai-san, wake up."

"Ngh…"

"Mai-san… wake up. Why are you sleeping here?"

"Ngh…? Keii-kunn~" A sleepy and groggy Mai said."

As Mai didn't look to be herself at the moment, her half-asleep self suddenly wrapped her arms around Kei's neck, as if asking him to carry her. Looking at her, Kei didn't really know what to do at the moment. 'Should I carry her?' 'Do I carry her into my house?' Does she have her key on her?'

"Oy, what are you doing, Mai? Wake up already."

"Mmmh… Kei…kun…"

"Haah…"

As Kei gave a heavy sigh, he finally gave in and carried her. With Kei's muscular physique and Mai's relatively small and light body, it was easy for him to carry her. He decided to bring her into his house for the time being since he didn't want to enter her house without permission or search for the key on her body since he may inappropriately touch her.

As he slowly put her body down on his living room sofa, he looked at her as she slept. Crouching down beside her on the sofa, he stared at her face as he pondered. Suddenly, he found himself poking her face, as if on impulse.

"…What am I doing?"