Rei Ao stood up and brushed the grass from his clothes.
"Let's continue tomorrow."
Iroha looked at Rei Ao, then at the three girls who were all glaring daggers.
She took a breath.
"Fine."
She knew she'd pushed things a little too far.
Even though she'd gotten Rei Ao's close friends involved under the pretense of "training," she had definitely crossed a few linesespecially right in front of them.
I should probably back off a little, she thought.
Even I would be jealous if I were them
Sticking out her tongue playfully, she added,
"But tomorrow we have to train double, okay?"
~~~
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Chapter 663: Gift to Kei Shirogane...
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~~~
The Service Club room.
Yumiko was fiddling with a rubber band when she suddenly snapbroke it in half from pulling too hard.
"That Iroha is definitely doing it on purpose!"
She growled through clenched teeth.
"There's no way they need to be that close for a three-legged raceshe practically threw herself all over Rei Ao!"
Yui paused from sorting club papers and gave a weak, wry smile.
"Ugh!"
Yumiko slammed her hands on the desk and stood up, the chair scraping noisily against the floor.
"I saw her pretending to trip and flinging herself into Rei Ao's arms. That smile on her faceshe totally planned it!"
By the window, Yukino paused in her reading almost imperceptibly, but quickly recovered her calm expression. Only her fingertips pressing into the pages gave her tension away, creating small wrinkles on the edges of the paper.
"Um haha,"
Yui began, hesitating. "Well, Iroha is trying to 'win him over'"
But Yumiko shot her such a vicious glare that her voice trailed off.
"Ahem, uh, so anyway"
Yui hurriedly changed the subject.
"I heard Rei Ao's meeting with Kei Shirogane after school today."
Yumiko's attention shifted immediately.
"Kei Shirogane? Why would he be looking for her?"
Yukino closed her book with a cool expression.
"We have no right to pry into other people's private affairs."
"But aren't you even a little curious, Yukino?"
Yumiko leaned in.
"That's your boyfriend meeting with another girl. If you don't really care, then why'd you interrupt their training earlier when Iroha was up to her antics?"
Her words struck a nerve under Yukino's seemingly calm exterior. Yui noticed the way Yukino's fingers tightened around the book, but she still kept her expression steady.
"I don't mind," Yukino said quietly.
"We're just going to see what they're up to after school, that's all."
Seeing how unyielding she was, Yumiko narrowed her eyes and switched tactics.
"Fine, let's just call it a club activitychecking on a fellow student's well-being. Sounds good?"
Yukino started to refuse, but the thought of Rei Ao standing around with Kei popped into her mind, stirring a bit of jealousy she tried to suppress. With a soft snap, she shut her book.
"Do whatever you want,"
she finally said in a flat tone.
Yui and Yumiko exchanged glances, both thinking the same thing: She's so not okay with this.
Meanwhile
Kei Shirogane sat alone in an empty classroom, staring at her worn-out sneakers. The sole on her right shoe was completely unglued, gaping like an open mouth mocking her.
She bit her lip and tucked the shoe into her bag.
"Why now?"
She spoke under her breath. Rei Ao-senpai had obviously noticed her situation. She felt her nose sting with oncoming tears.
Why did it have to be Rei Ao-senpai who saw this?
"Someone like me"
She looked at her socksfaded from many washesand the battered shoes. Tears threatened to spill over. Money at home was tight. She'd worn these shoes for three years now, not wanting to burden her family with more expenses. She wiped her eyes, deciding she'd just go straight home after school, skip training, and drop out of the sports festival. After all, she couldn't buy fancy running shoes like everyone else.
The final bell rang. Kei slowly packed her things, hoping to leave after the crowd was gone.
But when she reached the shoe lockers, there was a tall figure leaning against the wall, making her freeze in place.
"Kei."
Rei Ao stood up straight. His voice, like the man himself, was cool but not distant.
"We agreed you'd wait for me after school."
Her cheeks immediately warmed. She instinctively tried to hide her right foot behind her left.
"R-Rei Ao-senpai I just remembered something going on at home today"
He glanced at the foot she was hiding, and her heart practically stopped. But he didn't comment on it, only nodded slightly.
"It won't take too long. Come with me."
His tone left no room for argument. Kei hung her head and followed. He walked with long strides, but she noticed he slowed his pace a bit, as if matching hers.
They left the school gates, crossed a few streets, and ended up in the shopping district. Kei felt more and more confused.
"Senpai, where are we?"
Suddenly, Rei Ao stopped and pointed.
"Right here."
Kei looked upto see an upscale athletic shoe store. She stared, wide-eyed.
Rei Ao smiled.
"I'm planning to buy you a new pair of running shoes, Kei."
The moment she realized what he meant, her face went pale.
"N-no way! I can't accept something that expensive!"
The store was clearly a brand-name place. Definitely not cheap.
"Consider it my thanks for that time you invited me over for dinner," Rei Ao said calmly, with a finality that suggested no refusal.
"But that was my invitation I'm the one who took up your time."
"That's separate. Besides, I didn't bring a gift that day," he replied with a light chuckle.
"You wouldn't want me to feel awkward coming by your place again in the future, would you?"
"I"
Kei faltered, unable to find a comeback.
Rei Ao gently took hold of her wrist.
"C'mon."
His hand was warm and dry. The moment his skin touched hers, a current of electricity seemed to flow through her entire body, sapping all her will to resist.
Inside the store, the lighting was soft and welcoming. Rows of high-end athletic shoes lined the shelves. Kei had never set foot in such an upscale place before, and her palms were sweating from nerves.
Rei Ao led her straight to the running section.
"You're in the sports festival, right?"
"Yeah."
He picked up a pair of blue-and-white running shoes.
"These have good cushioning and are suitable for long-distance running."
Kei glanced at the price tag and nearly gasped4,000 yen! That was more money than she spent in an entire year.
"Senpai, this is way too expensive! I can't"
Ignoring her protest, Rei Ao flagged down a store clerk.
"Could we get these in size 36 for her to try on?"
As the clerk went to fetch the right size, Kei stood there in a daze. She didn't know how to refuse without embarrassing himor herself.
~~~
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Chapter 664: The Rebellious Sister is really hard to Manage...
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~~~
"Sit down, Kei."
After gesturing for the stiff-as-a-board Kei Shirogane to take a seat, Rei Ao crouched in front of her and gently lifted her right foot.
"!?"
It took her a second to realize what was happening, and suddenly all the blood in her body felt like it rushed to her face. The moment Rei Ao's fingers touched her ankle, she nearly jumped out of her skin.
He loosened the laces of her worn-out sneaker, slipped it off, and then carefully put the new shoe on her foot. The instant her foot slipped inside the new sneaker, Kei froze. She had never worn anything so comfortableit felt like she was stepping on clouds.
Of course, a bigger shock was the swirl of emotions from having Rei Ao personally put it on for her.
Rei Ao's fingers lightly pressed the tip of the shoe to check the fit.
"How's that? Too tight?"
"It feels really nice," she whispered in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.
He nodded, then slipped the other shoe on for her. When he finally stood up, he said, "Walk around a bit and see how it feels."
Kei stood carefully, taking a few tentative steps. Each one felt like a dream. Rei Ao watched her walk, then announced, "Let's try a size 37 for comparison."
They repeated the entire routine, and by the end of it, Kei was so overwhelmed she could hardly think straight. After trying the 37s, Kei admitted they felt better. Without hesitation, Rei Ao picked them.
"These fit you better. They won't slip when you run."
He turned to the store clerk.
"We'll take this pair. Please wrap up her old shoes."
At that point, Kei finally regained her voice.
"Senpai, I really can't"
"It's already paid for."
Rei Ao swiped his card, ending the conversation.
""
Blushing, Kei took the bag with her old shoes inside, her heart pounding wildly.
Across the street from the shoe store, three girls were watching from inside a caf.
"So they just went shoe-shopping."
Yumiko pursed her lips but didn't take her eyes off Rei Ao as he knelt down on one knee to help Kei with her shoes.
"Wow, Rei Ao actually put her shoes on for her"
Yui pressed her hands to her cheeks. "That's so romantic He's so sweet!"
Yukino was silently observing them through the window. Her face was calm, but her grip on her coffee cup was so tight her knuckles had gone pale. Suddenly, she stood up.
"It's time to go."
"Eh? Let's wait a bit longer,"
Yumiko protested.
"What if they go on a date afterward?"
"That's enough."
Yukino's voice was colder than usual.
"We have no right to interfere in other people's choices."
Inside the shoe store, Kei was wearing her new sneakers, feeling lighter than air. Rei Ao carried the bag with her old pair and said softly, "They suit you."
That simple statement made her eyes well up with tears again. Glancing down at her brand-new shoes, she felt a quiet shift in her heart. This wasn't just about having a new pair of sneakersit was about feeling treasured by someone for the first time in her life.
"Thank you, Senpai"
She said in a choked voice. "I promise I'll take really good care of them."
Seeing her eyes redden, Rei Ao's mouth lifted in a near-imperceptible smile.
"I'll be cheering you on at the sports festival."
Kei's head shot up, meeting his pale gaze. Her heart felt like it was about to burst out of her chest. The evening sun cast a warm orange glow through the store's glass, bathing them both in its light.
"Yeah, I'll do my best!"
"I'm home!"
Kei Shirogane's voice was at least eight octaves higher than usual as she came through the front door. She stared down at her brand-new running shoes, a smile tugging at her lips. She couldn't help itthey were a gift from Rei Ao-senpai. She could practically still see his warm, bright grin in front of her eyes.
In the living room, Miyuki Shirogane was buried in a heap of study guides. Hearing his sister's unusually bubbly greeting, he looked up in surprise. Ever since starting high school, she'd become more reserved, rarely so animated.
"Something good happen today?"
Kei was bent down at the entryway, untying her laces. She froze for a second when her brother asked.
"N-nothing special," she responded, trying to keep her tone level, but she couldn't hide the excitement in her voice.
Miyuki narrowed his eyes. He prided himself on his keen observation skills, and Kei was definitely acting off today. He set his pen aside and walked over to the doorway, just in time to see her gently place a brand-new pair of running shoes into the shoe cabinet.
"New shoes?"
He asked, noting that they were nothing like her usual footwear.
"Kei, when did you buy those?"
Caught off guard, Kei visibly stiffened for a moment.
"Uh recently,"
she mumbled, quickly shutting the cabinet door.
"They look expensive. How much did they cost?"
Miyuki pressed. He knew their family's financial situation better than anyonehis sister was always thrifty, so blowing cash on pricey shoes was suspicious.
"I-I didn't waste money!"
Kei's voice rose suddenly, and a faint blush crept over her cheeks.
Miyuki frowned. Her reaction was definitely sketchy.
"Kei, if someone gave them to you"
"None of your business!" she yelled, cutting him off. Like a startled rabbit, she dashed upstairs into her room, slamming the door behind her.
Miyuki stood there, dumbfounded.
"Sigh."
He sighed and massaged his temples. Ever since his sister hit her teenage years, he'd found it harder and harder to figure out what was going on in her head.
Up in her bedroom, Kei flopped onto her bed, burying her burning face into a pillow. She knew she'd overreacted, but she just couldn't help it. If her brother found out the shoes were a gift from Rei Ao-senpai, who knew what he'd say?
Even though there was nothing going on between her and her senpai.
Well, not yet, anyway.
With that thought, she rolled onto her back, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Why had Senpai given her the shoes? Was it really just a thank-you for that dinner? Or was there another reason?
She opened her phone's photo gallery and gazed at a candid shot she'd taken of Rei Ao's profile.
"Senpai"
She murmured to herself, smiling softly without realizing it.
~~~
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(Bonus Chapter) Chapter 665: I was wrong but won't change...
In Yukino's apartment.
Yukinoshita Yukino was in her spacious living room, calmly sipping tea. But every so often, her gaze would drift to the clock on the wall, as though she were waiting for somethingor someone.
