Shiina kept shifting closer to Akasaka.
"Th-the third volume! Have you finished writing it? Hurry and let me see!"
Shiina eagerly asked to see the third volume, leaning forward until she was practically right on top of him.
Akasaka hurriedly stopped her.
"You're too close! Shiina, you're way too close."
Only then did Shiina come to her senses. Embarrassed, she moved away from Akasaka Ryunosuke.
She wanted to read the book so badly that she had gotten a little carried away.
From a distance, the blue-haired girl, Ibuki Mio, saw what was happening and teased Ryuen beside her.
"Looks like our strategist is about to get stolen away~"
At Ibuki's teasing, Ryuen's expression turned frighteningly dark.
That damn brat! Could he have known Shiina for a while already?
No wonder Shiina was so eager. So that was what was going on.
Ryuen walked out of the alley with his hands in his pockets. He no longer felt like testing the waters.
He appeared right in front of Akasaka, wearing an unmistakably sour expression.
"Hey! You little punk, where are you trying to take our Shiina?"
Seeing Ryuen Kakeru suddenly appear, Akasaka was overjoyed inside. He glanced at the camera he had hidden in a blind spot in the corner, then kept his expression perfectly calm.
"Oh?"
Seeing how calm I looked, Ryuen began to wonder whether this was a trap.
He wasn't some brainless idiot.
Sure, he was a delinquent, but that didn't mean he couldn't think.
From the way the other guy was reacting, it was obvious something was up.
Ryuen Kakeru suddenly stopped walking and warily looked around. Were there people lying in wait?
He was afraid someone might suddenly jump out and club him over the head if he went any farther.
When Ryuen suddenly stopped, Akasaka couldn't help feeling disappointed.
He'd hoped Ryuen would make a little mistake, just like Yamauchi had.
Ideally, Akasaka would get enough evidence on camera. Then he could use it to blackmail Ryuen Kakeru.
Unfortunately, the other guy was too cautious to take the bait, and there was nothing Akasaka could do about it.
Shiina realized something was wrong and stood up, placing herself in front of Akasaka as she stared at Ryuen.
"Ryuen, let's let this go for today. Please leave him alone, okay?"
Ryuen clicked his tongue in annoyance at Shiina's plea and kicked over the trash can beside him.
That was the very trash can where Akasaka had hidden his camera.
Damn, what rotten luck.
He hadn't expected Ryuen to kick the trash can holding his camera. What terrible luck...
Akasaka cursed inwardly, but outwardly he still had to look as unruffled as a still pond, to fool Ryuen.
There was no choice. If the other guy saw through him, he could be in real trouble.
Still, with Shiina protecting him, Ryuen probably wouldn't do anything to him for now.
Sure enough, Ryuen let it go for Shiina's sake and dropped the matter.
With his hands in his pockets, Ryuen turned around.
"Let's go, Shiina. Remember, this is the last time."
Shiina breathed a sigh of relief and thanked Ryuen.
"Thank you, Ryuen. I'll keep doing my best for the class."
"Hmph!"
Ryuen snorted unhappily but didn't argue.
Shiina was willing to help the class and work for him. It was exactly what he wanted.
To be precise, letting Akasaka off the hook hadn't cost him anything. If anything, he'd gained.
Shiina meant a great deal to him.
He was just a delinquent. Fighting was his forte; strategy was Shiina's domain.
With Shiina helping him, it was like adding wings to a tiger.
It would let a tiger that could only rule the ground claim the skies as well.
Shiina gave me an apologetic look.
"Sorry, Akasaka. I've caused you trouble. I didn't want this to happen either."
"I just wanted to read with you in peace. I never thought things would turn out like this."
Shiina hugged the books to her chest and pressed her lips together.
I waved my hand to show her it was fine.
Shiina hesitated for a moment, wanting to say something, but then glanced at Ryuen beside her. She found it hard to ask Akasaka for the next volume now.
Akasaka seemed to understand what she was thinking and gave her a faint smile.
He took out his phone and suggested,
"Let's add each other as friends, Shiina. When I finish writing the third volume of 5 Centimeters per Second, I'll send it to you."
Shiina immediately lit up with excitement.
She hurried over to me, her eyes sparkling.
"Really?! You're really willing to send me the third volume?"
Faced with Shiina Hiyori like this, Akasaka smiled helplessly.
"Of course. We're the best of reading buddies, after all."
"Take out your phone. Let's add each other."
Akasaka waved the phone in his hand.
Shiina eagerly pulled out her phone, and we added each other as friends.
After we'd added each other, I told Shiina I was going to leave.
Shiina was reluctant to part. After all, a reading buddy like this was a rare find,
but she also understood that Ryuen was still there. It was safest to let Akasaka leave quickly, before the other guy changed his mind.
Shiina waved goodbye to me.
"Let's read together again sometime, Akasaka~"
Akasaka made an OK sign with his hand to show that he was fine with that.
Ryuen watched from the side, his expression growing darker by the second.
It wasn't that he was interested in Shiina. He just saw her as a strategist.
Now it looked like his strategist was about to get stolen away.
Ibuki Mio came over again and, oblivious to the mood, added,
"You don't have a chance, Ryuen. Shiina obviously likes someone, and that someone isn't you."
"Huh?"
Ryuen looked at her like she was an idiot.
"Are you stupid? What makes you think I like Shiina?"
"I admire her talent, not her. What the hell is wrong with you?"
Ryuen clicked his tongue in disgust.
"Damn it, is there no one in their class with any brains?"
"What the hell are they thinking about all day?"
Realizing she'd guessed wrong, Ibuki flushed with anger..
Without another word, she went to challenge Ryuen to a fight.
"Stand right there!"
Ibuki blocked Ryuen and took a fighting stance.
She instantly raised her leg and kicked at Ryuen's crotch.
Ryuen raised his arm to block, his brow furrowing.
"Hey, don't think I won't fight back."
"Come on! If you won't fight back, you're no man!"
"Fuck, you really think I don't dare hit you, huh?"
Ryuen had a short fuse too, and he and Ibuki immediately started grappling.
The winner was decided quickly: Ryuen.
After all, it was hard for technique to make up for the difference in their builds.
Ibuki leaned against the corner, her clothes filthy.
But her eyes still held a defiant look.
Ryuen had just reached out to help her up.
Ibuki spat, sending a wad of saliva onto Ryuen's face.
Ryuen first froze, then a vein bulged at his temple.
Just as Ryuen was about to hit her again, Albert finally couldn't take it anymore.
Using his burly frame, he hoisted Ryuen up off the ground.
"That's enough, Ryuen! What's the point of carrying on? You're in the same class!"
"Ah, what are you talking about, you bastard? She spat at me! She spat on me! How am I supposed to put up with that?!!!"
Before you continue