"About why you're always hanging around me, Akira replied quietly, but in a firm voice.
The accusation hung in the air. Rina's eyebrows rose, and even Aoi paused in her painting to listen.
"I'm not…" Ayame started.
"You are," Akira interrupted calmly. "You transferred here less than a week ago, and somehow you're everywhere I am. The café. The art room. Basketball practice. And now here again." He crossed his arms. "If you want to talk to me about something, just say so. You don't have to be creepy about it."
Ayame's composure cracked slightly. "I'm not being creepy."
"Then what are you doing?"
She hesitated, clearly scrambling for a cover story. "I'm doing research. For a project."
"What kind of project?"
"Social dynamics. Group behavior." The lie came smoothly, but Akira could see the tension in her shoulders. "You're... an interesting subject. Popular, athletic, with a diverse social circle. I'm observing how different personality types interact."
