The Bait

After school the next day, the students of Class D either went to club activities or made plans to hang out with friends. Before long, only a few people remained in the classroom.

"Hey, Hoshino~" The short-haired brown-haired girl stood beside Hoshino and said in a sickeningly sweet voice, "Let's go get something to eat together."

"Sorry, Little Kikyo, but I have something to do later, so I can't go with you."

"Is that so? What a shame." Kushida sounded a little disappointed. "Then let's hang out next time you have time."

With a smile on her face, she waved at Hoshino, then turned and returned to the group of girls standing near the podium.

"Hoshino said he has something to do later, so he can't come hang out with us."

Hoshino also put on an apologetic expression and pressed his palms together toward them in apology.

The girls' expressions were easy enough to read. Mori Nene, who was not particularly close to him but liked looking at handsome faces, showed a hint of regret. Wang Meiyu, who got along fairly well with him but was easily embarrassed, lowered her head and did not look over. Sato Maya slumped her shoulders in disappointment, while Matsushita Chiaki glared at him with wary eyes. Karuizawa...

Hey, that thing where you glanced over here, immediately blushed, and turned away was way too conspicuous. Even Matsushita beside you noticed it, and the look she shot him became even more disdainful.

The little angel Kushida seemed not to have noticed anything. Smiling brightly, she led her friends away. Before leaving the classroom, Kushida secretly cast a glance in Hoshino's direction.

You owe me one. That was what her gaze said.

At noon, Hoshino had sent Kushida a message, asking her to find a way to take the girls in the class out after school.

This was to prevent them from interfering with what he was about to do. As expected of Kushida, asking her to handle it had been the right choice.

Hoshino looked diagonally behind him. Sakura was sitting at her desk, quietly talking with Hasebe, who stood beside her. Every so often, Sakura would secretly glance this way.

Although Kushida and Hasebe were fairly close, Hasebe was also something of a loner in class. It was unlikely that she would go out with a group of girls she was unfamiliar with.

Hasebe and Sakura did not usually spend much time together either. Today could only be called a coincidence.

Hoshino rose helplessly and walked over to Sakura's desk. The two of them looked at him at the same time. The difference was that Sakura's eyes held a plea for help, while Hasebe's carried a trace of scrutiny.

"Haruka." As proof of their close relationship, Hoshino had been asked to call her by her given name a couple of days ago.

"Aki?" Hasebe narrowed her eyes at him.

Sakura's little glance toward Hoshino just now might have been subtle, but it probably had not escaped Hasebe's notice.

"Sakura and I made plans. We have something to do."

"What is it?"

"Sorry, but I can't say."

"Just the two of you?"

"Yes."

"Then isn't that a date?"

"You could call it that."

"Ehh—"

Hasebe dragged out the sound as she repeatedly studied Hoshino's and Sakura's expressions. Hoshino looked perfectly composed, but Sakura's face had turned bright red under her gaze.

"Hmph, not a single word out of Aki's mouth is true." Hasebe pouted. "If it were really as you said, Airi wouldn't be reacting like this."

"I see. So Sakura sold me out."

"Eek—"

Sakura covered her mouth and let out a startled cry.

"Whenever I feel like teasing you a little, you always give me exactly the reaction I was hoping for. Sakura, you're really cute."

"Huh? Y-you were joking?" Sakura asked in surprise.

"That isn't joking. That's just messing with someone," Hasebe said bluntly.

"Huh? Is that so? But I'm so slow that I didn't notice at all. I'm sorry..."

"No, why are you apologizing, Airi?"

Even Hasebe, her friend, was a little dumbfounded. But she soon turned to Hoshino again. "No matter what Aki is taking Airi to do, I'm coming too. If I let you be alone with Airi, who knows how you'll bully her?"

"Even though you know we're going on a date, you still want to be a third wheel?"

"That's even more reason to—" Hasebe realized her slip as soon as she spoke and hastily changed her words. "Hmph. Anyway, I'm coming with you. I have to make sure Airi is safe."

"Hehe, Haruka really is a reliable friend."

Hoshino said this with a smile. In fact, the moment he saw Hasebe with Sakura, he had concluded that there was no way to leave Hasebe out, so he promptly adjusted his plan to include her.

At his signal, Sakura honestly explained that day's plan of action to Hasebe.

The girl explained...

That afternoon, the increasingly westward sun cast lazy rays of light as two girls entered the club activities building hand in hand. They were Hasebe and Sakura.

"There really isn't anyone here." Hasebe looked around as she walked. This had once been the club activities building, but after the new building was put into use, every club had moved out, leaving this old building vacant.

"If the building's abandoned, why are the doors still open? That's kind of strange."

"I heard it's because this old building is much closer to the athletic field than the new one. Quite a few sports clubs don't want to give up their activity rooms here, while the cultural clubs don't want to share a building with the sports clubs. The Student Council is currently mediating the issue."

Sakura relayed what she had heard from Hoshino. Neither of them was the type to join clubs, so they neither understood nor cared about such matters.

"So basically, at this time of day, all the sports clubs are still training, which means this building is completely empty, right?" Hasebe spoke with an unconcerned expression. "That guy Aki picked a pretty questionable place too."

"...Kaka, later..."

Sakura started hesitantly, but Hasebe cut her off decisively. "Don't worry, Airi. With me here, you can relax. You don't need to be afraid of that pervert."

"Mm... Thank you, Kaka," Sakura said gratefully.

Hasebe affectionately wrapped an arm around Sakura, all while continuing to condemn Hoshino. "That awful Aki, coming up with such a rotten idea and using you, Airi, as bait. If anything goes wrong..."

Sakura softly explained, "Kaka, I told you already. This was my idea..."

"Then it's still Aki's fault!" Hasebe said in mock anger. "And you're still defending him!"

She's hopeless. One look is enough to tell she's already fallen for him. Hasebe thought to herself.

When she had first learned of the plan, she had thought it was absurd too. But Hoshino had assured them there would be no problems, Sakura trusted him and had been resolute, so Hasebe could only compromise. The only thing she could do was insist on accompanying Sakura.

Even she herself had not realized that this might also have stemmed from her subconscious trust in Hoshino.