‘Hi, Aki-senpai,’ she said.

At which Masamune burst out laughing.

‘Jeez! This isn’t some school club, so what’s with the senpai?’

‘OK, OK – so what should I call her?’

Kokoro didn’t think she deserved to be laughed at. But Aki said, ‘Hey, I don’t mind. I like being called that!

‘I don’t mind what you call me – just plain Aki, or Aki-chan – it’s all good. I find it kind of endearing that you’re so polite, Kokoro.’

Aki said this jokingly, but now that Kokoro heard herself being called, within moments, just plain Kokoro, it did catch her by surprise. Kokoro marvelled at Aki’s communication skills – the way she adroitly changed how she addressed people. It was clear there wasn’t anything awkward in her relationship with the two boys either.

So how was it that someone like her couldn’t cope with school? She’d easily be one of the popular girls.

‘You’re so sweet, Kokoro, and I imagine any senpai would treat you well.’

‘Ah … um. Actually I stopped going pretty early on, so I don’t know any of the older students. And I’m not in any club or anything either.’

Even if Masamune and the others insisted that it wasn’t something to be embarrassed about, she’d still said I stopped going, leaving out the part about school. When she remembered how she hadn’t even gone to the orientation for any of the clubs, it made her feel miserable.

Although she’d been joking, Aki’s expression turned a bit chilly when Kokoro mentioned the clubs. Masamune and Subaru both opened their mouths in surprise, and by the time Kokoro had become aware of the atmosphere, Aki had turned to leave.

‘I see. So you weren’t in any clubs. The same as me, then,’ Aki said.

‘Eh?’

‘I’ll be in my room today,’ she added. ‘Seems Fuka’s here too, so why don’t you invite her?’

She strode down the hallway towards their individual rooms. The hallway had red carpeting, lit up by the candles on either wall, and Kokoro watched through the glow, as the tall Aki faded into the distance.

Timing it with Aki’s exit, Subaru sidled over to Kokoro. ‘One thing you should know,’ he whispered.

‘Hm?’

Kokoro was confused – had she said something to upset Aki?

‘That’s a touchy subject. Aki-chan doesn’t like to talk about school very much.’

‘Oh.’

Kokoro could sympathize. She felt the same way. Problem was, Masamune and Subaru talked about it in such an easy-going way she’d tuned in to that.

Masamune said, with an air of disdain, ‘I don’t think it’s something we need to worry about.’ But his eyes remained glued to the game monitor.

Kokoro remembered how when they’d first introduced themselves, they’d only said their names and year in school because that’s what Aki, who’d gone first, had done.

She stared down the hallway after Aki.

As Subaru had said, it was definitely a touchy subject.