The opening ceremony and class homeroom ended, and today's school schedule was over.
Riran and I were at a café in front of the station with Suwabe-san.
That said, she’s been fidgeting this whole time...
I wonder what’s up. Just as I was thinking that, Riran nudged me with her elbow.
“Hey, Akito. What is this about?”
“No, I’m the one who wants to know.”
Seriously, what is going on? Riran doesn't seem to know the reason either and is looking perplexed. Hmm, what should I do?
Right around the time the coffee I ordered had cooled down nicely...
Suwabe-san took a deep breath and bowed her head deeply.
“Sa-Sanada-kun, Kuonji-san! Thank you so much for saving me back then!”
“......”
““Back when?””
“Eh!?”
No, I really have no idea what she’s talking about. We saved Suwabe-san? When was that?
“Ah, I see. It was dark back then, and my hair was down... Well, if that's the case, how about this?”
Suwabe-san made up her mind and undid her braid.
With her loose, fluffy dark brown perm spreading out, her usual stiff impression instantly changed into that of a fluffy-type beautiful girl.
And I remember this hairstyle. Riran must have remembered too, as she let out an “Ah!”
“Could it be, from that time...!”
“Wait, that was you, Suwabe-san...?”
“Yes. Once again, thank you very much for saving me.”
She bowed. Seeing her beautiful bow, Riran and I reflexively bowed back. But man, an impression can change this much just by a hairstyle... I’m surprised.
Near the end of summer vacation. The woman who was being attacked by a thug in the park. To think that was actually Suwabe-san.
Then, Suwabe leaned over the table with a look that was a mix of excitement and haste.
“Sa-Sanada-kun. I think you’re amazing at sports, kind, and very cool. When you appeared so gallantly and defeated that thug with a single kick, it was really, really cool...!”
“O-Oh. Thanks.”
This is the first time I've been praised like this with such sparkling eyes. I-It’s a bit ticklish. Embarrassing.
“Muu...!”
Hey, stop that. Don't pinch my side. Come to think of it, it's rare for this girl not to show her intimidation openly. Usually, she’d be panicking and making a fuss.
...Ah, right. My senses were numbed by summer vacation, but we’re supposed to be keeping our relationship a secret. That’s why Riran is resisting so quietly. ...Kind of interesting.
Riran, while still pinching my side, forced a smile and spoke to Suwabe-san.
“S-So, Class President. Did you call him and me here just to thank us? If so, you don’t need to worry about it anymore.”
“T-That’s right. I only helped because I happened to be there, but it was really just a coincidence.”
Ow-ow-ow. My side hurts, my side hurts. Should I scream that my side is full of tiny blood vessels? ...No, that joke probably wouldn’t land.
“So, let's just leave it at that—”
“N-No! It would be a disgrace to the Suwabe family to not return a favor when my benefactor is so close! As a member of the Suwabe family, I cannot back down on this!”
Su-Suwabe-san’s pressure is intense. And that way of speaking... could it be that Suwabe-san is a lady from a good family? Why are there so many ladies from good families in our class? There’s Riran, Rion, Neika. Even Hiyori is marrying into wealth as a future president's wife.
“Besides, if Sanada-kun hadn't been there, I would have been made into a plaything for that thug and lived the rest of my life with a scarred heart. Perhaps I wouldn't have been able to endure the pain and might have committed suicide... Considering that, Sanada-kun is the benefactor of my life.”
“Heavy, heavy, heavy. This conversation is too heavy.”
It’s true that the possibility wasn’t zero, but that imagination is way too heavy. I’m seriously glad I was there at that time...
“So, I thought desperately during the rest of summer vacation. How can I repay this great debt? What could I offer to the person who protected my life that would be equal to the value?”
“Wait a minute!!”
The story is too heavy, and I heard some ominous words like 'offer'! Look, the customers around us are looking totally put off! They’re glaring at me with eyes that say, ‘You enemy of women...’!
“S-Suwabe-san, please calm down. I don't know what the Suwabe family is, but I didn't help you because you're Suwabe-san. If it were my fated person or any other girl there, I would have gone to help without hesitation.”
“Akito...”
Ah, she finally let go of my side. Thank goodness, that actually hurt.
“Wh... What a kind person. You truly are a man of virtue and character, filled with a heart of benevolence, Sanada-kun...!”
Please don't look at me with such entranced eyes. Riran's side-pinching is going to start again.
“However, I won't be satisfied with that...”
“Hmm... then just one thing. Just one thing that Suwabe-san feels would repay the debt is fine. And then we’re done with this topic, okay?”
“R-Really!? Thank you very much!”
Ah, was that a bad move? Suwabe-san’s eyes seemed to sparkle even more.
Suwabe-san fidgeted with her hands and glanced back and forth between Riran and me.
“T-Then, I would like to invite you to my home on our next day off. Would that be alright...?”
That’s what she said. ...Is that all? In other words, she just wants to have a meal?
“O-Oh. If it’s just that...”
“Hold on, Akito.”
This time Riran stopped me and brought her mouth close to my ear.
“I can't help but think there's more to this. It might be better to ask about the Class President’s house first.”
“T-That’s true. Thanks.”
I accidentally stammered because of the sudden scent from Riran. However, I managed to pull myself together and turned back to Suwabe-san.
“Um... if you don't mind me asking, what kind of work does your family do...?”
“Ah, I’m sorry. You’re right, inviting you to my house so suddenly must seem suspicious. Please rest assured, it is a legitimate profession.”
When you give a disclaimer like that, it actually makes me more anxious.
Suwabe-san took out something like a small card case from her bag and pulled out a piece of paper. Then, she bowed once more.
“My family runs a real estate business.”