Monday arrived, marking the start of a new week.
It was supposed to be a normal, unchanging daily life...
Glance, glance. Whisper, whisper.
...Is it just me, or am I being watched?
I hadn't felt anything until last week, but today I was being stared at quite often. What on earth was going on?
"Akky, chis-chis~"
"Yo, Akito. You've got that same gloomy face as always."
"Shut up."
These two had come to school together as usual.
Somehow or another, they seemed to be continuing their cohabitation even after summer vacation. They said they'd even gotten permission from their parents.
Those two took out their smartphones and looked at me with smirks.
"Wh-What?"
"Hey, hey, hey. 'What' is a bit cold, don't you think, Akito?"
"Everyone else is being reserved and only watching from a distance, but we're different. Behold this!"
Behold, she says... Ah, this!
"That advertisement...!"
"Exactly! The ad where Akky and Rira were models is becoming a hot topic!"
"What's with you guys? You're not even trying to hide it anymore."
"W-Well, a lot happened."
It wasn't something we could keep hidden forever, and the fact that it was found out just happened a bit earlier than expected. That was all.
So that's how it was. Since I didn't know about the ad last week, I didn't notice the stares. But now that I knew about it, I'd become somewhat sensitive to people's gazes.
Well, it's being advertised this extensively. No matter how much Suwabe-san told people to keep quiet, you can't put a lid on people's mouths.
When I looked at Suwabe-san sitting at the front of the classroom, she was making a "tee-hee" face.
Wait, maybe she predicted it would turn out like this by the start of the week and that's why she set up that meeting on Saturday?
"That's big news too, but Neika and I have one more thing we want to ask you, Akito."
"Something you want to ask?"
"Akky, it's useless to try and play dumb~ We were interviewed by the Class Prez during summer vacation, after all."
Ah... that.
Ryūya put his arm around my shoulder and whispered to me.
"The thing about cohabitation and all that... that's about you and Kuonji, right?"
"I mean, there's nothing else it could be~ Akky, just spit it out already~"
"...Well, I guess that's how it is."
""I knew it!""
Smirk, smirk, smirk, smirk, smirk, smirk, smirk, smirk, smirk, smirk, smirk, smirk, smirk, smirk, smirk.
No, they were smirking way too much.
"I see, I see~ You guys are finally at that stage too~"
"I'm rooting for you, Akky. I'm definitely coming over to visit~"
"Well, once things settle down."
We'll probably be busy with moving and everything for a while.
I wonder what kind of house they'll prepare for us. An apartment or a house? Either way, we have to live in it with care.
I spent a while casually brushing off the blessings and teasing from the two of them.
The classroom suddenly became noisy, as if someone had entered.
What's up? Did something happen?
I turned around to see the cause of everyone's excitement. And standing there was...
"Ah. Oh, it's just Riran."
"What do you mean 'just'? Nice greeting."
Riran stood there with a pout, seemingly displeased by my words.
No, I just thought something amazing had appeared.
"Good morning, Riran."
"Mmh... Morning."
She twirled her hair and replied shyly.
Riran probably drew a lot of attention on her way here too. I can understand why she's embarrassed.
As I was unintentionally smiling while looking at her...
"""KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!"""
Suddenly, high-pitched cheers erupted from throughout the classroom.
The girls in the class who had arrived at school all swarmed around Riran and me.
Wh-What? What's this!?
"Riran-san, did you get married to Sanada-kun!?"
"Idiot. That was an ad. But you looked so good together!"
"You two really are connected by the Red Thread of Fate, aren't you!?"
"I cried just looking at the ad!"
"I totally get it!"
"I never thought you two would look this good together!"
"Congratulations to both of you!"
"Congratulations!"
The girls in the class were shouting "Congratulations" repeatedly.
It felt like half happiness and half embarrassment. After all, everyone had found out now.
Riran is reasonably close with everyone to begin with, so she was responding as usual... but I've never been surrounded by girls like this. I could only give a wry smile.
Hey, lanky guy and loli smirking over there. Could you please help me out a bit?
Then, at that moment...
"Alright, alright, everyone~ Sana-tan is in trouble, so stop right there~"
A savior appeared!
"Actually, the company for that ad belongs to the father of Hiyori's fated person~ If you're interested, Hiyori can ask him to pull some strings for you~"
"Really!?"
"I-I've always wanted to try wearing a wedding dress once!"
"I want to do it too!"
"Me too!"
"Me too~!"
This time, the girls flocked to Hiyori instead of me.
Watching that, Hiyori sent a wink my way.
Wait, did she save me...? What a great kid. Thanks, Hiyori.
As I let out a soft sigh, this time Rio approached me.
"Fufu. Akito-kun, you're quite popular."
"Please don't say things like that."
"Is it because Riran-chan will get jealous?"
"Yeah."
"...You've become honest too."
"At this point, trying to hide it would just be uncool."
"That's very like you, Akito-kun. But I like that about you."
I told you to stop saying things like that.
When I turned a deadpan gaze toward Rio, she shrugged her shoulders and gave a knowing chuckle. Honestly, are you a foreigner or something?