TRYING TO MAKE SURE
IN THE BAR AT EVENING TIME
*"Hananoi, why are you so spaced out?" Yui asked.*
*"Not like that. Just thinking about something," I muttered.*
*"What is it?" she pressed, curious.*
*"I realized we have a test next week."*
*"Oh! If that's the case, you can take a leave from now until you're done. Fuka's free for the next two weeks."*
*"Leave? For what? Do I look like the studying type?" I shot back.*
*"Wow. I always knew you were a genius." She ruffled my hair lightly, smiling.*
*"I'm not," I replied, glancing at Fuka. She was pretending to be busy, her expression unreadable. *Ah… I almost forgot about her warnings.*
*Yui was about to leave, but—*
*No. My personality wouldn't let me stay subdued.*
*Deliberately, I grabbed her hand, pulling her close. My hand settled on her waist. I glanced back at Fuka—her face was stormy, but she couldn't react.*
*"Hands off me," Yui said sharply.*
*"Didn't I tell you *I'd* be the one doing the touching Not the other way around."*
*"That's not fair," I countered.*
*"Not a rock, girl. At least give me some space."*
*"Do I look like your girlfriend?" she snapped.*
*"Maybe you should stop, then," I said.*
*"I'm even thinking about that idiot," she retorted, sticking out her tongue.*
*"Sorry, can we order?" A customer interrupted.*
*"Coming!" Yui called, slipping away.*
*A cold air prickled from the opposite direction. I smirked. *Long talk incoming.*
*Fuka's frown deepened as she approached. "Hananoi. Got a minute?" Without waiting, she strode outside. I followed, circling 180 degrees to the back of the bar.*
*Fuka's words were icy. "Hananoi-san, just because I told you how I feel about her doesn't mean you get to deliberately piss me off. I'm trying my best to keep my composure around her."*
*"I thought you promised to back me up. So why are you—?"*
*"You seem like the possessive type," I cut her off, my gaze glacial. "The kind who won't let anyone touch what's hers."*
*I stepped forward, my movements slow, deliberate. Fear flickered in her eyes as she retreated until her back hit the wall. Slamming my hands on either side of her, I leaned in until mere inches separated us.*
*A deep sigh. "Hmm… About that promise—I'm no god. I'll only do what's convenient for me. But before I commit, I need to ask: How serious are you about this?"*
*She lifted her chin, meeting my eyes. "I… I'm serious."*
*"Really? I don't care about your feelings, but if this relationship works out, it could completely warp her worldview. She'll either find balance or become something… unbalanced."*
*"So, Fuka—before you drag her into your world, want to ask you: Have you ever been into guys? Maybe you were wronged, and now you're just experimenting?"*
*"No," she said firmly. "I've never thought sexually about a guy or been in a relationship with one."*
*"Well, I'm going to test that."*
*I tilted her chin up, closing the gap until our lips were a breath apart. To prove me wrong, she didn't flinch—not a single tremor of emotion.*
*I pulled back, shoving my hands into my hoodie pockets and about to leave
"Stop!" Fuka seethed.
"What Was That For?"*
*"Let's say you passed. But sorry—I can't cheer you on much." I turned away. "And Fuka? If this leads to awkwardness, I'm quitting. I really hate suffocating atmospheres."*
*With a dismissive wave, I left. It's Closing time, anyway.*
*" I wish you Good luck," I tossed over my shoulder.*
*The weekend passed without a sign of her. *Did I hurt her?* Don't think so, Everyone has their own preferences.*
*Enough nonsense. A test loomed ahead. The class was a frenzy of cramming—Noriko High's grading was brutal. Fall below intermediate level, and you'd graduate just like a normal student who went to an ordinary school . To rank higher? Forty-five A's across your school career. The expert tier was another beast entirely.*
*Panic simmered as phones were confiscated. Surveillance cameras glared from every corner—had they always been there?* Never realized before
*I scoffed. *Just as expected from a top tier school .*