Osamu Dazai

After Ayanokōji Kiyotaka spoke to Sakura Airi, she slowly raised her face and leaned over cautiously.

It would be nice if talking to her relieved her burden a little.

Ayanokōji Kiyotaka couldn't help thinking.

"Ayanokōji-san... Thank you for coming." Sakura Airi thanked.

"There is no need to thank you for this kind of thing. So, what's the matter with you?" Ayanokōji Kiyotaka asked.

"Hmm... that, it's about the letter I received yesterday..." Ai Sakura said in a low voice.

"what happened?"

This time Sakura Airi is looking for him who usually meets with Haruki Yamauchi, it should also mean that she has some thoughts in her heart.

But Sakura Airi seemed to be a bit resistant to speaking, unable to speak properly.

"Don't worry about—"

When Ayanokōji Kiyotaka was about to speak from his own side, he saw several students walking towards the corridor.

He saw the group of students wearing sportswear, which should have something to do with club activities.

"Sorry, let's walk around a bit." Ayanokōji Kiyotaka said.

"Huh? Ah, yes." Although Sakura Airi was puzzled, she still agreed.

It's not a good thing for people to see those pictures just now.

Ayanokōji Kiyotaka seemed to be walking towards the dense forest behind the school building, avoiding people's eyes.

Usually no one would go into that place. Although the students had little chance to see it, it seemed to be well-repaired.

Accidentally bumping into Haruki Yamauchi who came to the rendezvous place early is also very troublesome, so Ayanokōji Kiyotaka plans to finish things as soon as possible.

Just when Ayanokōji Kiyotaka thought so, Sakura Airi tilted her head in disbelief, then opened her right hand and looked up at the sky.

"What's wrong--"

After seeing this scene, Kiyotaka Ayanokōji asked back, and then he knew the reason for Sakura Airi's puzzling behavior.

Because a drop of water dripped onto his cheek.

If this is not a man-made thing--

"It's raining."

I thought the weather would be sunny, but suddenly it rained heavily.

This was probably temporary, but the rain was far stronger than expected, and the casual clothes of Ayanokouji Kiyotaka and Sakura Airi were soaked in the blink of an eye.

"Damn it, let's go back to the corridor first!" Ayanokōji Kiyotaka said helplessly.

Sakura Airi also nodded, so Ayanokōji Kiyotaka took Sakura Airi who nodded in agreement and turned back.

Although it didn't last even a minute, due to the downpour, Sakura Airi's casual clothes were so wet that even her hair was soaked.

"What a pity... Are you alright, Sakura?" Ayanokōji Kiyotaka asked while touching the water on his forehead.

"I-I'm fine, Ayanokōji-san, how about you?" Sakura Airi said in a panic, hugging her shoulders.

"I'm fine too."

Seeing the rain getting heavier and heavier, Ayanokōji Kiyotaka sighed slightly at the same time.

The timing of this rain was really bad enough.

"If you don't dislike it, just use this."

Sakura Airi handed the handkerchief to Ayanokouji Kiyotaka somewhat tactfully.

Ayanokōji Kiyotaka found this handkerchief very familiar, as it was the same one he borrowed when he was on the uninhabited island.

"It's fine with me, you can use it yourself, you'll catch a cold." Ayanokōji Kiyotaka refused.

The girl's body is wet, he can't wipe himself first.

However, Sakura Airi stood on tiptoe and wiped the water droplets from his wet hair with the handkerchief.

The aroma of Sakura Airi's body came with the smell of rainy days.

"I'm actually healthy."

After Sakura Airi finished saying this, she wiped off the rainwater from Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's hair, cheeks, and neck.

"........."

Ayanokōji Kiyotaka couldn't help taking a peek at Sakura Airi who was standing silently by the side, vaguely understanding Haruki Yamauchi's purpose.

It's summer vacation now, although the students are all wearing casual clothes, but if they were wearing uniforms, this might be a very spectacular scene.

Despite the occasional accident of rain, this can also be thought of as a deliberate event.

The sky suddenly began to rain, and the two hurriedly fled under the eaves.

Talking about this kind of topic with each other... gradually became reticent.

Then, it seems that the eyes are intertwined, and the other party's breath comes to my ears-these are the scenes that boys will always have delusions.

However, Ayanokōji Kiyotaka caught a glimpse of that scene just now for some reason in his mind.

Maybe that felt like something Haruki Yamauchi was looking forward to.

"I don't know if the rain will stop soon...?" Sakura Airi said looking at the rain.

"I checked it with my mobile phone just now, it seems to be a shower, it should stop after a while." Ayanokōji Kiyotaka explained.

"Is that so..." Sakura Airi said with some regret.

If the rain stops immediately, it means that the time the two spend together alone will also pass immediately.

"That's right, I'm sorry." Ayanokōji Kiyotaka said apologetically, "You have something important to do next, and I made you drenched all over."

"No, it's okay, it doesn't matter at all."

Sakura Airi asserted, in other words—

"I...what should I do..." Sakura Airi lowered her head and said.

"What to do, you just need to answer according to what you feel. Like accepting, rejecting, or starting as a friend." Ayanokōji Kiyotaka reassured.

The way of starting is different from person to person, and this is not something he should talk about.

"Of course, you can also keep the answer. If you are embarrassed, I can pass it on to Yamauchi." Ayanokōji Kiyotaka said.

Haruki Yamauchi should not expect this, but if Sakura Airi wishes so, then he should and must make it happen for her.

"...No, I want to tell him...I probably have to tell him." Sakura Airi said.

"That's right, it should be for the good of Yamauchi." Ayanokōji Kiyotaka said,

"Well, I see... I will reject him."

Sakura Airi told Ayanokoji Kiyotaka the answer before telling Yamauchi Haruki.

"That's it." Ayanokōji Kiyotaka sighed.

Judging from the process so far, he almost [-]% expected it.

It is very important for Sakura Airi to say this matter personally.

"Ah—uh—that... I don't think I have the right to reject other people's thoughts and feelings. He might think that I'm great...but..."

For some reason, Sakura Airi felt a strong sense of guilt over the refusal.

"You don't have anything to apologize for. Basically it's the one-sided intention of the confessor.

It stands to reason that you can only agree if you like that person. If you don't, it's not surprising to refuse. There is absolutely no such thing as being unqualified. "

Ayanokōji Kiyotaka only wanted this point not to be misunderstood by her, so he expressed it so strongly.

But he felt that the rain was about to stop, and it was hard for Haruki Yamauchi to say when it would appear.

"I'd better go back, right? I'll go back first."

The rain was still a bit heavy, but Ayanokōji Kiyotaka wanted to go back, so he took a step forward.

"No, I can't! Ayanokōji-san, if you're not here, I won't be able to say anything... Please..."

His sleeve was grabbed by Sakura Airi again, but he still held it tightly.

"Please... don't leave me alone." Sakura Airi pleaded.

"If you so wish."

Ayanokōji Kiyotaka replied briefly, and decided to stay under the roof again.

After all, he usually receives all kinds of help from Sakura Airi.

It would be a shame to leave her alone under such circumstances.

After about 15 minutes, Haruki Yamauchi came here, even so he arrived very early.

But Ayanokōji Kiyotaka had never seen his expression so stiff.

"You...why are you here, Ayanokōji." Yamauchi Haruki asked.

"I'm sorry, Sakura didn't have the courage to meet you alone, so please ask me to be there, don't mind my existence."

But even if Ayanokōji Kiyotaka said so, Haruki Yamauchi should be very uncomfortable, but he can only change his mood.

Haruki Yamauchi seemed instantly confused, but desperately tried to focus on Sakura Ai in front of him.

"Long, long wait, have you read my letter?"

"Hmm... that... please let me ask one thing..."

"Just ask..."

Sakura Airi grabbed the skirt with all her strength, and said as if she was trying to force her voice out of her throat:

"W-why... is it me? There are obviously more cute girls..."

"I just like you!"

Haruki Yamauchi shouted in a high-pitched voice, and Sakura Airi's shoulders shook in fright.

"Huh, sorry, I didn't intend to be loud...so, so, what's your answer?"

For a clumsy confession, a clumsy answer.

Because Ayanokōji Kiyotaka listened as if he had nothing to do with himself, he couldn't help but feel——it's fine if you just say that or say that.

But for those involved, this was an event so tense that their hearts would jump out of their mouths, and they couldn't turn their minds around properly.

There is no way to pick the best option anyway.

"Yes... I'm sorry!"

Although her eyes were a little red, Sakura Airi still said this in front of Haruki Yamauchi, and lowered her head deeply.

The last light of hope buried in Haruki Yamauchi's heart was shattered and scattered at this moment.

"I, I... can't respond, that, your mood..."

Just how much courage did Sakura Airi use to squeeze out those words?

This is the first time Ayanokōji Kiyotaka has seen a form, but it is really unbelievable that he actually witnessed it from a close distance.

Haruki Yamauchi must also not want to be dumped in a place where there are outsiders.

Although it was impossible, Ayanokōji Kiyotaka felt that he must have given him complicated memories.

"Is that so..."

Haruki Yamauchi seemed to understand and was desperately trying to accept the situation.

Like Sakura Airi, his voice trembled slightly, and Kiyotaka Ayanokōji couldn't smile at that appearance.

"Thank you, Sakura. You are willing to specifically, that, tell me directly."

"F-goodbye...!"

Sakura Airi couldn't bear the heavy atmosphere of this scene, she bowed her head deeply to Haruki Yamauchi, and then ran away quickly.

"what……"

Haruki Yamauchi stretched out his arm feebly, but he missed Sakura Airi.