Love master Ayanokoji, did Kushida really act? shuhaige.net

"Hey, Ayanokoji, what do you think of Kushida?"

"Kushida? She's alright, a pretty genuine girl."

"So, do you think I have a chance if I confess to her?"

"Sure, the chances are high."

On the deck, in the lounge area by the swimming pool, Ayanokoji was chatting leisurely with Ike.

"Alright then!"

"I've decided, I'm going to confess to her tonight!"

I don't know if the excitement from watching the match earlier had gotten to him, or if the orange juice on the table had a higher alcohol content than expected, but he suddenly made a declaration that sounded like something only a drunk person would say.

"..."

"Good luck."

Ayanokoji said flatly, his eyes already seeing Ike's face fading into a shade of gray.

His image and voice still lingered.

Sudo, who was sitting nearby, clearly cared about his friend. As soon as he heard that Ike wanted to confess, his eyes widened in shock and he shouted:

"What? Eh!? Are you serious, Ike?"

"If you fail, you'll feel like you want to die..."

He instinctively glanced at the surrounding sea, his expression inexplicably heavy, his eyes seeming to say, 'It would be way too convenient to end it all right here.'

Hearing this, Ike slowly stood up. The sea breeze blew across his face, lifting his natural side-parted bangs to reveal a baby face that carried a hint of heroism.

"Of course I am..."

He gathered his emotions for a moment, tilted his head at a 45-degree angle, and said with a glint in his eyes:

"To say what I mean and do what I say, that is my... motto!"

?

Why did that sound so familiar?

Ayanokoji looked at him with a blank expression, almost thinking he was about to cross over to the neighboring show to throw kunai.

Upon hearing this, Sudo shed a stream of hot tears: "So passionate~ Ike."

As expected, people with red hair are easily fired up.

Ayanokoji couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

Just like that, time flashed by until evening.

Only a crimson arc remained on the horizon.

On the bow of the ship bathed in the sunset, the boy was pouring his heart out to the girl, looking bashful, his lips stuttering as he spoke.

The sunset glow shone on the sea, leaving a golden trail, and also left a flush of red on the girl's face. The evening breeze blew gently, and her white skirt and golden-orange hair swayed in rhythm, just like...

A pair of windshield wipers?

Fine, a zero-point metaphor.

But it fit Ayanokoji's current state of mind perfectly.

He was squatting in a corner, watching the scene before him with great interest, while Sudo beside him seemed to have his heart in his throat.

"Hey, Ayanokoji, do you think Ike will succeed? Why am I so nervous?"

"Wakaranai."

Although he said that, Ayanokoji was actually quite nervous himself.

It was the kind of nervousness one feels while waiting to see the results of an experiment.

And in the next second, the sea breeze tugged at the corners of his mouth.

Ike came running back with his forearm shielding his face, the tears streaming from the corners of his eyes flying wildly in the wind.

"Wuwuwu, Ayanokoji, you lied to me!"

He said with a hint of resentment.

Ayanokoji was slightly stunned. He remained silent for a long while before speaking with a touch of apology:

"Sorry..."

"Actually, I don't really understand love either."

Hearing this, Ike froze. He stared at Ayanokoji's blank face for a long time before it finally dawned on him:

Damn it!

Which nerve in my brain misfired that I went to ask Ayanokoji?

At night, the lights on the ship flickered to life, turning the entire cruise liner into the only speck of light upon the vast ocean.

On the outer corridor of the guest cabin deck, Ayanokoji was staring at the dark sea with a melancholic expression on his face.

It wasn't that he had any particular worries; he simply looked melancholic.

"Ayanokoji-kun, is something on your mind?"

A familiar voice rang out from behind him, and Ayanokoji pulled himself back to reality, turning his head.

It was Kushida Kikyo.

"I just couldn't sleep, that's all."

Ayanokoji said calmly, his gaze fixed on the slightly weary eyelids of Kushida.

"I see... I feel like it's been a long time since I last talked to you, Ayanokoji-kun."

Kushida said with a touch of sentimentality, offering a soft smile.

Then, she shifted her gaze, turning to look at the dim horizon of the sea, and let out a soft sigh as she rested her hands on the railing.

"Do you remember the first time we met, Ayanokoji-kun..."

"Yeah."

"You were the only one who stood up on the bus back then. It was actually kind of cool."

"Are you being sincere?"

Huh?

Hearing this question from Ayanokoji, she turned her head, looking a bit confused as her face was illuminated once more.

"Of course I'm... sincere..."

After she finished speaking, her eyes drooped slightly.

Ayanokoji said nothing, merely staring at her as he usually did.

Seeing that he wouldn't respond, she offered a forced, awkward smile, then turned her face back toward the darkness of the sea.

"Hey, Ayanokoji-kun..."

"Do you think I can keep living like this?"

"You don't need to ask for my opinion..."

Ayanokoji answered instantly, a flicker of expression returning to his eyes. Glancing at her composed profile, he spoke with feigned depth:

"Kushida, you just need to do whatever you think is right."

As the words reached her ears, Kushida's delicate body seemed to tremble for a second.

Then, her shoulders slumped, and she shifted her weight, leaning against the railing as if all the air had been let out of her.

She turned her head to look at Ayanokoji, her eyes holding a softness that seemed different from her usual self:

"As expected, you're still the same as always, Ayanokoji-kun."

"..."

?

Ayanokoji fell silent.

He had no idea how to answer Kushida's question, so he had just spouted a platitude, telling her to do whatever she wanted. He hadn't expected to receive such an approving look in return.

He watched her with a detached expression, but the next second, he suddenly realized something that felt slightly off.

Kushida Kikyo... why was her acting so natural this time?

No flaws. He couldn't find a single flaw...

Indeed, he would have to read this book of hers much more carefully.

Truth and lies, lies and truth—at his current level, even Ayanokoji couldn't tell if Kushida was acting or not.

The brilliance of her performance was truly admirable!

Kushida, which side of you is the real one?

He couldn't help but ask himself this question in his heart.

The night grew deeper, and sleepiness began to take hold.

Led by Kushida, the two chatted for a while longer.

Naturally, the conversation was mostly about class-related topics.

Finally, after Kushida flashed a smile that seemed to show she had regained her energy, they bid each other goodnight and returned to their respective cabins.

The next day, Ayanokoji was wandering around the deck.

Although there was plenty of entertainment on the ship, most of it was overcrowded, and Ayanokoji had no desire to squeeze in with everyone else.

Just as he was thinking of heading to the theater alone to watch something—even if it was boring, it would kill time—his gaze accidentally fell upon a young girl standing in front of the lounge bar.

Unprecedented!

Horikita has finished her seclusion training.

Seeing the young girl sitting there all alone, Ayanokoji decided to show a bit of kindness and walked over to offer his regards.

After all, isn't that how it always plays out in anime?

Perhaps his brother might even reduce his debt because of this.

Thinking this, he walked slowly toward Horikita, but as soon as he got close, he was met with a cold, distant gaze—or rather, a look of inexplicable wariness.

She looked as if she were worried about someone discovering something.

"That's a bit harsh... I'm just here to check on you, after all."

Ayanokoji walked past the girl and sat on the high stool next to her, his eyes drifting to her attire, where a hoodie that seemed quite out of place for the season stood out.

"After all, I haven't seen you outside for three days."

"I was simply reading in my room, and besides... I already told you that I prefer to be alone."

Horikita replied coldly, her voice sounding significantly weaker than it had before boarding the ship.

Ayanokoji looked her over, his peripheral vision catching the glass of milk in front of her that was still faintly steaming, and he suddenly seemed to understand.

After two seconds of contemplation, he spoke slowly:

"Horikita..."

"Is it that time of the month?"