FFD 10

As evening approached, the setting sun still radiated a lingering heat. Ginko decided to open an umbrella as they walked along the road.

"I'll handle it," Hayama offered, taking the initiative to hold the umbrella high while meeting Ginko's gaze.

"Who told you to hold the umbrella? Mind your own business!" her crimson lips parted slightly. She wanted to express gratitude but couldn't bring herself to say it, so her words came out like that.

"You poked me with the umbrella a few times earlier, almost hitting my eye. Let me hold it instead." he gently adjusted the umbrella's angle, completely shading Ginko from the sun.

When they arrived at Kiyotaki's house, he returned the umbrella to her. "Thank you so much. You've been a lifesaver."

Reluctantly, she put away the umbrella, her tone hinting at disdain. "Don't bother me with such trivial matters in the future. You interrupted my shogi game!"

"Alright, I won't do it again."

Observing his serious expression, she felt the urge to slap him!

'What a jerk! He really infuriates me!' she silently cursed.

"If you don't go inside soon, you'll melt. There's already steam coming off your forehead," he kindly reminded her.

"Hey, listen. Once you're done delivering the stuff to Kato, you'll have the rest of the day free, right?"

"Well, apart from going home, eating, taking a bath, and all that, there's nothing else."

"Then how about playing shogi with me?"

"Shogi?" he looked hesitant.

It wasn't that he disliked playing shogi. While he found it somewhat boring, he didn't hate it. He simply didn't want to walk into Kousuke's house again, like a lamb to the slaughter.

"I went along with you to buy those things. Can't you play a game of shogi with me?" she emitted an intimidating aura.

"Well, I just thought... as an outsider, it might not be appropriate for me to keep bothering your master's house," he quickly came up with an excuse, amazed by his own quick thinking.

"Huh? Don't tell me you don't know about the internet? Are you still stuck in the '80s?" Ginko's face displayed skepticism. She thought he was trying to brush her off.

"Oh, right!" Due to Kousuke's creepy threat, he completely forgot that he could also play shogi online.

"I'll send you the software later. Whether you download it or not is up to you!"

She snorted lightly and slammed the door with a loud "bang."

"Forget it. There's not much to do at home anyway. I'll play a game of shogi with her." he returned to Kato's house and handed over the items to her.

"Thank you, Hayama-kun." she took the items and entered the room.

A few minutes later, she emerged from the room, now dressed in comfortable and cute casual clothes. In her hand, she held a small box, and beneath her calm expression, there was a hint of hostility.

"Hayama-kun, it seems like you forgot something." Kato raised the small box, wrapped in silver packaging, with two reflective words on it—Okamoto.

His jaw dropped, rendering him speechless. He finally understood why the cashier had given him judgmental looks. He had accidentally purchased a box of Okamoto condoms while shopping with Ginko at the convenience store!

"Are you going to say that Ginko bought these?" Kato's expression remained emotionless, but he sensed his life was being threatened.

Of course, Ginko didn't purchase the condoms, and he definitely didn't buy them either! It must have been accidentally included when he was at the cashier! He didn't have the nerve to count each item individually, so he ended up buying them absentmindedly.

"No wonder the bill ended up being over 4,000 yen for just a few measly packages. I totally ended up buying some extra stuff without even realizing it," he said, forcing a smile as he tried to play it down.

"Is that so?" Kato still had some lingering doubts, but she reluctantly believed him. The crisis was finally diffused, and he felt a slight sense of relief from the pressure.

"Is there anything else on your mind?"

"I'm good. I feel way better now that I've used a warm pack." Kato's tone stayed the same, but her shift in attitude was obvious.

"Well then, I'll head out. Do you want me to help you request a day off tomorrow?" he prepared to leave. It was getting late, and Kato's parents would likely return soon. It wouldn't be ideal if any misunderstandings arose, particularly regarding the incident with the Okamoto condoms.

"No, it's fine! My father will give me a ride to school tomorrow."

"Alright then, see you tomorrow, Kato." he made his way to the doorway.

"Just hold on for a moment, Hayama-kun."

"Do you have something else?" he turned around, curious.

She hesitated for a moment before extending her hand, her face slightly turned away. "Um... take this with you." Even someone as saintly as Kato, who seemed to be detached from worldly matters, couldn't just casually hand a box of condoms to a male student!

He accepted the small box from her hand and quickly shoved it into his pocket. "Oops, my bad. I totally forgot about it."

"Hold on a sec, Hayama. I've got a couple of questions for you before you go," Kato said softly, her face still turned away.

"Sure thing. Shoot," he replied, feeling his heart unexpectedly quicken. A strange sensation washed over him, and he couldn't help but wonder, 'What's this feeling all about? Is it a surge of phenylethylamine or a burst of dopamine?'

"Well, Hayama, how does it feel when you carry me on your back?"

The first question caught him off guard, more challenging than the one she had asked in the taxi. He still vividly recalled the sudden blast of freezing air conditioning.

After pondering for a moment, he chose to answer honestly. "It feels soft and a little bouncy on my back. My breathing gets a tad faster, and, um, it's like my mouth becomes a bit dry."

"Hayama-kun, you never fail to disappoint."

Though he didn't understand what exactly was disappointing about him, he wisely opted to remain silent.

"There's one more thing that has been on my mind for a long time, something I've wanted to ask... um, I hope you'll take it seriously."

He nodded, indicating his willingness to listen.

"To be honest, I've never really felt like I existed, from childhood till now. Whether it's at school, on the streets, or even at home, I often feel forgotten and overlooked. You could say I'm an 'invisible person.'"

"I've grown accustomed to the feeling of being invisible over the years. There's a certain comfort in being alone. Even the teachers often forget to assign me tasks, so I end up with fewer chores! When I came to Toyogasaki, I expected to go unnoticed, but on the very first day, Hayama-kun, you actually remembered me."

She added, "You must have a great memory, right? Is that why you remembered me?"

She spoke honestly, not disliking the feeling of being invisible but feeling genuinely happy when someone could remember her and become her friend.

"I mean, I'm not really good at remembering everyone. I can't even remember a single member from my soccer club. But Kato, you're an exception! You're special!"

His response carried a sincere tone. On their very first day of school, he had been captivated by Kato's distinctive qualities—her ability to blend into the background yet still be able to influence those around her. That's why he made a resolute decision to sit next to her.

"Um..."

"Well, Kato, I guess it's time for me to... you know, head out."

Noticing Kato's continued silence, he figured it would be best to say his goodbyes sooner rather than later. After all, he had made a promise to Ginko to go home and play shogi with her.

...

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