Akane checked her watch as she ran. She was genuinely annoyed by her roommates' lack of urgency, but her upbringing and nature didn't allow for outbursts. She bit her tongue and focused on her pace.
I hope he hasn't been waiting too long...
It was their last dinner together for the term. After today, they wouldn't see each other for more than two months. The thought alone was enough to make her feel a quiet pang of sadness.
She finally reached the west gate. It was crowded; students were either lugging suitcases home or heading out for end-of-term celebrations like her group. Her hurried arrival drew immediate attention.
"Wait, is that Akane?"
"Akane-senpai? From the Computer Science department?"
She was a known face on campus. She acknowledged the greetings with a quick, polite nod, her eyes scanning the crowd until she spotted him: a lean, tall figure wearing a pet carrier backpack.
Her face lit up with a genuine smile as she closed the distance.
"Sorry! I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long," she said, slightly out of breath.
He was the type of person who liked to be early, a habit that had served him well since his first meeting with Ito Ayumi.
...
He'd arrived at 9:30, nearly twenty minutes ago.
But he just gave her a lazy grin. "Nah, I just got here. Don't worry about it."
He looked back at the carrier. "Right, Pochita?"
A sharp "Woof!" came from inside the backpack.
"See? She says we're cool," Aoyama said with a wink.
Akane laughed. That was the thing about being around him: there was no weight. No pressure, no negative energy. He seemed entirely unburdened, and he had a way of making her forget her own stress without even trying.
Around them, the whispers started. The students who recognized Akane were already huddled together, watching the exchange with varying degrees of shock and jealousy.
"Is that her boyfriend?"
"No way... did some guy from outside actually catch the Computer Science Goddess?"
"He looks decent, I guess. But where's he from?"
"My heart is literally breaking. We finally get a girl this beautiful in our department and someone just walks off with her?"
"They look good together though. Who are we to complain?"
Aoyama noticed the shifting eyes and the hushed voices. He tilted his head toward Akane and lowered his voice. "Akane... you're a bit of a celebrity here, aren't you?"
Akane followed the direction of his gaze and saw the dozens of students watching them. She looked genuinely embarrassed. "It's not... I mean, it's Emi's fault. She took my ID photo freshman year and entered it into that 'Most Beautiful Student' poll without telling me. It kind of blew up."
She'd intended to keep a low profile. But that one bare-faced, unedited photo had been enough to make her a campus legend. Then when people saw her being dropped off in high-end sedans with drivers who treated her with absolute deference, the "Rich Heiress" rumors had solidified. Then her grades had come out: top of her class, perfect GPA.
By sophomore year, "Akane" was a fixture of the university forums. She'd topped the polls easily, much to her own chagrin. She just wanted to study in peace.
Aoyama saw the discomfort and changed the subject immediately. "So, where's the rest of the crew?"
"They're on their way. I didn't want you waiting, so I ran ahead."
"Fair enough. We'll wait then," Aoyama said, disinterested in the crowd.
---
Meanwhile, Yuto's group had finally met up with Emi and the others.
Aki was still blushing from her first proper greeting with Seino, her eyes darting toward him and then away.
Yuto walked beside Emi, his voice lowered. "Akane left in a huge hurry. She said she was meeting a friend. Do you know who?"
Emi shrugged. "The guy who saved her life. Relax, Yuto. They aren't 'together' or anything like that. She's just being polite."
In reality, Emi had been acting as Yuto's "insider," a position encouraged by a steady stream of favors and occasional "bribes." The dinner itself was Yuto's move, disguised as a group outing.
Yuto felt a small wave of relief. Just a friend. He could handle a friend.
But still, a potential rival. He found himself curious to see what this "hero" looked like.
The group rounded the corner toward the west gate and spotted Akane immediately. She was still the most striking person in the crowd, even at a distance.
Yuto's gaze shifted to the young man standing beside her. He took in the sharp profile, the messy hair, the familiar way he stood.
His eyes widened. The breath left his lungs.
"Bro?"
[Translated and Rewritten by Shika_Kagura]