I Really Am a Good Person

After leaving the lakeside, Uesugi Hara headed toward the dorms. He had barely taken a few steps when he suddenly stopped and glanced toward the tree beside him. "Ayanokoji, would you say I'm a good person?"

Ayanokoji emerged from the tree's shadow and brushed the grass off his clothes. Instead of answering directly, he asked, "Did you settle things with Kushida?"

"Well, you saw it all, didn't you?" Uesugi Hara shrugged indifferently, then circled back to the topic. "Don't change the subject. You still haven't answered my question."

Ayanokoji fell silent for a moment before reluctantly saying, "I guess... you are?" If you'd just stay away from me.

"Huh? Even you think I'm a good person?" Uesugi Hara's eyes lit up. He rubbed his chin and muttered, "Could it be that I really am a hidden 'do-gooder'?"

He agonized over it for two seconds, then quickly gave up trying to figure it out and waved a hand. "Forget it. I can't make sense of it. Let's go, it's time to head back to the dorms."

"Yeah."

On Sunday morning, the sunlight was especially gentle. Sakura Airi hugged her camera, planning to take some pictures around campus—she hadn't updated her blog in ages. But just as she reached the corner of the dorm building, she ran straight into someone.

"Ow!" A clear cry of pain rang out.

Uesugi Hara had just finished breakfast and was on his way back when someone suddenly bumped into him. He looked down and saw a girl crouching on the ground.

Last time, it had been Sakayanagi Arisu. This time—

It was Shizuku-chan!

Wasn't this fate bringing them together?

He crouched down and gently waved a hand in front of the girl's eyes. His voice softened. "Are you okay?"

"I-I'm fine..." Sakura Airi shrank back and answered quietly. As she spoke, she tried to stand up and flee, but as soon as she straightened, she bowed deeply to Uesugi Hara. "I'm really sorry! I'm so sorry. I'll be going now!"

"Wait, your camera." Uesugi Hara picked up the camera from the ground and pressed a few buttons. The screen didn't respond at all. "It looks like it broke?"

"How could this happen..." Sakura Airi hurriedly took the camera from him and fumbled with the controls, but no matter which button she pressed, it wouldn't respond.

Her voice held a slight, plaintive catch.

"I'll pay for it."

"No, it was my fault. You don't have to trouble yourself. I'm sorry, I'll be going now." Sakura Airi spoke very quickly and bowed again, then tried to escape.

"Hey, wait." Uesugi Hara caught hold of her. "I'll take you to get it repaired."

"N-no, really, you don't have to!" The girl struggled, trying to get away from Uesugi Hara.

Unfortunately for her, she was dealing with Uesugi Hara.

He had plenty of ways to strong-arm a girl like this.

But he didn't choose to use force.

Instead, he deliberately put on a troubled expression. "If you don't agree, my conscience will hurt."

He chose to guilt-trip her.

Sure enough, as soon as he said that, Sakura Airi was instantly torn. Her fingers gripped the camera tightly, and her little head drooped even lower.

Uesugi Hara pressed his advantage, his tone growing more earnest. "Just do me a favor. Otherwise, I'll keep feeling like I owe you something."

"Th-then, okay..." Sakura Airi finally gave in, her voice as faint as a mosquito's. Her bangs hid her eyes.

"So, let's go." Uesugi Hara smiled and turned around. After taking just two steps, he felt a light tug on his hand.

He looked down and only then realized he was still holding the girl's little hand.

He glanced at the girl again.

Sakura Airi's little face had gone bright red, and even the tips of her ears were pink. She looked adorable.

—So cute.

"Sorry, I didn't notice for a moment." Uesugi Hara let go and scratched his head, putting on an embarrassed look. But just before releasing her, he quietly gave her soft little hand a squeeze.

So soft. It felt even nicer than he'd imagined.

Though it was hard to tell whether he'd done it on purpose or by accident.

"It's, it's okay..." Sakura Airi's voice grew even softer. Her head drooped until it almost touched her chest, and her steps slowed half a beat as she followed closely behind Uesugi Hara.

They walked in silence for a while before Uesugi Hara spoke up. "By the way, I'm Uesugi Hara from Class A. What about you?"

Although he'd known her name for ages, he still had to go through the motions of getting acquainted as if for the first time.

Sakura Airi snuck a glance at him. It was the first time she'd looked at him properly; before, she'd always kept her head down.

The boy was tall and well-built, with sharp lines to his profile and delicate features. He might have seemed a little stern, but the faint smile at the corners of his mouth softened that impression. There was a touch of nonchalant gentleness in his eyes, and her heart began beating a little faster.

"I-I'm Sakura Airi from Class D..." she answered quietly. As soon as she finished, she quickly lowered her head again, the pink at the tips of her ears deepening.

"Were you going to take pictures today, Sakura?" Uesugi Hara glanced at the camera she was clutching tightly and asked, though he already knew the answer.

"...Yeah." Sakura Airi replied softly, her fingers unconsciously gripping the camera's casing. A trace of lingering disappointment still showed in her eyes.

"Oh, then I'm really sorry. I kept you from taking pictures." Uesugi Hara put on an expression of deep apology, but inside he was already crying out—Ah! My Shizuku-chan! Her blog update was going to be delayed again! If only I'd walked more slowly earlier!

"N-no, it's okay..." Sakura Airi hurriedly waved her hands, her voice soft. "It's fine to wait a bit before taking pictures."

"How could it be okay!" Uesugi Hara's voice rose before he realized it. Seeing that he'd startled the girl, he quickly softened his tone. "I wasn't watching where I was going and bumped into you, then broke your camera and messed up your plans. I'm the one who should be apologizing."

He looked at Sakura Airi's bowed head, and his remorse deepened. Not only had he delayed Shizuku-chan's blog update, he'd also made her so nervous.

Sakura Airi felt his gaze and her cheeks grew even warmer. "You really don't have to apologize... And you're willing to take me to get my camera repaired. That's already, already very kind of you."

Uesugi Hara's eyes lit up, and he seized the chance to ask, "So, does that mean I'm a good person?"

Sakura Airi froze. A trace of confusion flickered in her eyes—he'd been talking about the camera just a moment ago, so why was he suddenly asking that?

She tilted her head and thought it over. Although the boy had bumped into her by accident, he hadn't shirked responsibility and had even offered to take her to get her camera repaired. He didn't seem like a bad person.

"...Mm." She nodded lightly, her voice as faint as a mosquito's.

For some reason, she felt that something was a little strange, but she couldn't say what it was.

Confused kitty.jpg

Uesugi Hara: * sob * I never thought Shizuku-chan would see right through my "good person" nature at a glance. No wonder she's the idol girl I admire.

He suppressed the corners of his mouth as they began to rise, then clapped his hands and put on an energetic expression. "Let's go! I know a shop in the commercial district that repairs household appliances. They'll definitely be able to fix your camera."

"Oh..." Sakura Airi replied quietly and followed close behind him. The blush on her bowed little face still hadn't faded, and even the tips of her ears were tinged a pale pink.