Women

After Nakahara made his speech, also announcing his future plans and their next gathering, Aoi slowly proceeded towards Izumi.

Izumi's friends had decided to leave early long ago, giving Oka a massive heartbreak, knowing he missed knowing about the girl he had taken a liking to.

However, Aoi assured him he would get it on his stead though, through Izumi, so Oka happily left, knowing he had to leave Aoi and Izumi alone.

Izumi waited on the bench with Aoi's uniform on her lap, giving Aoi a warm feeling. 

When he arrived, he grabbed his uniform, as well as the shoe box containing his school shoes.

He was surprised, however, that Izumi refused to hand it to Aoi, adamantly saying she should just be the one to carry it.

Aoi did not push her, just giving her a light pat on the head as they slowly left the football field, going towards their room.

The sun was still a bit high in the west, making Aoi assume that there was still an hour before sunset.

They walked side by side together until they entered the school building…

***

Aoi remained silent, and so did Izumi – however, they had different reasons: Aoi had been pondering about his plays earlier, what he possibly missed, a mistake, all that focused on his performance earlier, while Izumi was simply feeling awkward.

She could not take it anymore and turned towards Aoi. 

She was about to say something but suddenly held herself back when she realized Aoi was totally in a daze once again.

The first time they were walking together, Aoi was also in a daze, seemingly consumed by his thoughts.

Izumi felt better but… bitter. 

However, the former came out on top, so, with a smile on her face, slid her hand on Aoi's arm, clinging towards him once again.

She finally realized she was the only one being awkward while Aoi was more thinking about something, possibly about his play earlier.

Izumi did not mind, enjoying the bare minimum she could get.

Aoi was startled by Izumi's sudden clinging towards him, but he just gave her a pat on her head as they finally entered the room.

Aoi and Izumi went to get their backpack.

Aoi had to push the shoe box inside his bag, and he was successful. Thankfully, there was more space inside his backpack since he limited the school supplies to one notebook, yellow paper, and a ballpen.

Although he might appear to treat his academics half-heartedly, his grades were excellent, even regarded as a genius by his classmates.

Only Izumi could contend against him when it came to intelligence.

Unfortunately, Aoi just gave his best for the sake of passing in the school, not trying to surpass Izumi, crowning the latter as the most intelligent student inside the room.

Aoi turned towards Izumi and was surprised at the size of her backpack, colored pink, her favorite one, and it was even bulging.

He was dumbfounded.

He wondered how she could carry such a cumbersome backpack.

He compared it to his backpack, repetitively turning his head, and suddenly decided.

He stared at Izumi, giving him a confusing look, as he said, "Can I carry your backpack? You can carry mine."

Izumi's eyes widened and then shook her head.

She suddenly lifted the backpack effortlessly, but her face changed for an instant, sliding it behind her back.

She pushed it towards her and then boastingly moved the backpack without any apparent difficulty.

Aoi was at a loss for words to be even showing his concern.

She walked forward and shyly said, "Don't be concerned about me. I have been carrying this for many years. It also strengthens my back, you know."

Suddenly, she raised her arm as if she was showing her biceps and confidently boasted, "I'm not a helpless woman. I don't want to be like one, you see."

Aoi was taken aback and suddenly giggled.

He shook his head, patting Izumi's hair once again, finding it addicting, as he said, "Alright. Let's go, then. Do you want to go home first and then dress for our first date?"

Izumi was taken aback and then lowered her head, feeling her heart beating furiously.

She asked, stammering, "Y-You want to go to my house?"

Aoi was startled, turning towards Izumi by lowering his head slightly and chuckling.

"Of course, I'll go home, too. I can't just appear on our first date wearing a school vest but with shorts, right? There was also this backpack, too. There's no way I'll embarrass myself."

Izumi was so embarrassed she misunderstood what Aoi meant that she wanted to dig a hole and burrow herself inside.

To calm herself, for some reason, she suddenly thought of clinging to Aoi's arm once again and, without hesitation, went to grab his arm.

Her face flushed, and her mind exploded.

She could not think straight.

Forced by instinct, she pushed Aoi with her to leave the classroom and went ahead to go on their first date.

She could not allow herself to be embarrassed anymore.

Aoi saw her flustered expression and found it amusing at the same time.

'So cute!'

How he badly wanted to pinch Izumi's cheeks at this point, but he had to hold back.

That was what he told himself, but his fingers had long been on Izumi's cheeks, squeezing her milky-white skin.

'Hmm?' Aoi noticed something. 'She doesn't wear foundation? So, she's just naturally pretty, huh?'

"O-Ouchhhh!!!" Izumi wailed in pain.

When Aoi was done pinching her cheeks, Izumi pouted in anger, her left cheek swollen.

Aoi lightly laughed and motioned her to leave the classroom.

Of course, he did not forget to apologize.

"Where do you want to go on a date? I'm pretty sure you love eating, so we will go to a restaurant."

Izumi sulked even more, pinching Aoi's stomach.

However, she found Aoi's skin a bit resilient, as though he had muscles.

She wondered if he had been working out in secret despite not showing interest in exercising every time the physical education subject asked them to do so, but she was quickly distracted by Aoi's giggles.

"I'm right, aren't I?"

Izumi turned her head away from him, not wanting him to show a light smile on her face.

"Well, thank you for knowing a bit about me."

Aoi chuckled.

"Alright, we will date in a restaurant, then. Where do you want to go?"

"You suggest."

"Alright, how about the Tempura Express?"

"No, I don't like Fast Food chains."

"Oh, I see. Then, how about Pâtisserie Hana?"

"No, sweet will gain me fats."

"How about…"