章 24: Chapter 24: Reverse Card
Sanaka was still glued to the crane machine when Akuma dragged her down to the floor. They were squatting beside the crane machine, hidden from view of everyone else.
"What's the big idea? I was connecting with that bunny toy, you know?"
Sanaka turned around to face Akuma.
"Shh."
Akuma covered Sanaka's mouth.
From both Akuma and Sanaka's view, they saw someone pass by with the same hair color as Teki. That person was walking towards the exit and eventually left the arcade center. They didn't see the person's face so they weren't sure if it was actually Teki or not. They both stood up again.
"Damn, did he just leave?"
Akuma scratched the back of his head.
"Well, either way, I'm happy to just see him on a weekend. Anyway, you said you'll get the bunny toy for me. Go ahead, I'm waiting."
Sanaka had her hands on the glass again as she stared at Akuma.
"Tsk. Fine, whatever. Damn waste of time this was."
Akuma stood in front of the crane machine and inserted a coin. He positioned his hands on the joystick that controls the crane and on the button that makes the crane drop.
"I'll show you how easy this is!"
He moved the joystick and aligned the crane with the bunny toy. He quickly pressed the button. The crane dropped on the toy and the claw opened to grab it. The bunny toy was slowly being lifted. As the toy was starting to rise up together with the crane's claw, Sanaka was holding her breath. The crane with the toy in hand started to move towards the hole where the toy should be dropped. Then the bunny toy fell before reaching the drop zone.
"Eh? What the hell happened? I had it!"
Akuma started to hit the glass of the crane game.
"Hey, you said it was easy."
Sanaka made a snide glance at Akuma.
"Oh, shut it. I'm going to get it next time!"
Akuma dropped another coin in the machine and readied his hands on the controls. Same thing happened. When the bunny toy was near the drop zone, it fell again. This cycle repeated for more than a dozen times. But at long last he succeeded. The bunny toy finally fell at the drop zone. Sanaka slapped Akuma's shoulder a few times as she jumped up and down.
---
It was already dark outside when they exited the arcade center. Sanaka was holding on to the bunny toy with both her hands. It was a small stuffed toy that was as tall as a soda can. She was smiling at it the whole time they were walking again.
"It was easy, huh? You spent, like, 2,000 for this."
"When you have money, anything is easy."
Akuma had his hands inside his pockets and triumphantly smiled.
"I don't think you should be proud of that."
Sanaka smiled at Akuma. She then took a few steps ahead of Akuma and turned around to face him.
"Anyway, here is fine. I can walk by myself from here to my house."
"Wait, is this when I should insist or not?"
"Uh, you really shouldn't. If my parents see you, they might think I'm hanging out with the wrong crowd. Especially with how rowdy you look—"
"This is the thanks I get?!"
---
On the first day of the school week after Akuma and Sanaka's adventure, the homeroom teacher of class 2-B used the morning session to discuss the upcoming school trip.
"As second-year high school students, you guys will be having a three-day, two-night trip. When you reach your third year, you will have a longer trip. This year we will be going to Kyoto. I will need you guys to form a group of five students each. Even though the first two days will be a tour conducted by all the classes together, we will use your groupings as a way to take account of each other. The last day will be a free day. Be sure to be aware of where everyone from your group will be at all times."
The students started to chatter with one another.
"Anyway, decide on your five-member group this morning. We will discuss the other details later in the afternoon."
Most of the students stood up and talked to each other. Some have already formed their five-man group. Angelie went straight to Sanaka and asked her if she wanted to be in the same group. Sanaka immediately agreed.
"You know, this may be the first time someone asked me to be in their group."
Sanaka was wiping the tear that was forming in her eyes.
"Well, we're friends so that was inevitable."
Angelie stood next to Sanaka and smiled at her.
Two other female classmates saw that Angelie and Sanaka already paired up. They approached both Angelie and Sanaka.
"Hi, Fukushuu-san. We were wondering if we could join your group? We have only two members as of the moment, as well."
The girl with long, light purplish hair spoke first. Her name was Murasaki Sumire.
"If you already have anyone else in mind to join first, we won't force ourselves on you guys."
The girl with short brown hair and a headband had awkwardly smiled and waved her hand at Angelie.
"Oh, sure! We'd love to have you guys with us, Murasaki-san and Kanao-san. Or maybe we can call you Sumire-san and Mizumi-san?"
Angelie gently smiled at the two girls. Kanao Mizumi was the one with short brown hair.
"Just call us by our first names! I've always wanted to get to know you better, Fukushuu-san. You're always kind to everybody…"
Mizumi clasped her hands together while having her face flushed.
"Please, just call me Angelie. And I'm sure Sanaka-san wouldn't mind being called by her first name, right?"
Angelie turned to Sanaka.
"Uh, y-yeah. Sure. A-and I'm also okay with you guys joining us. Just so that it's clear—"
"Thank you, Sanaka-san! I always knew you were friendly even though you were sometimes distant from everyone else."
Sumire grabbed Sanaka's hands.
The four girls ended up talking a bit more about themselves. As Sumire and Mizumi were talking to Sanaka, Angelie noticed that Akuma was just sitting on his chair while reading and no one was approaching him. She let out a sigh and shook her head. After mulling on it for a while, she decided to approach him.
"No one's scurrying to the Demon Lord's side, huh? Things sure have changed for the worse for you."
Angelie stood in front of Akuma.
"I'm waiting for other people to come to their senses and ask me to join them. I will be able to expand my influence on others by looking pitiful at first and then show my competent side later."
Akuma answered without looking up at her.
"Well, you truly look pitiful. But since I am a merciful person, you can join us—"
"No, thanks."
"Why, you—"
"I'd rather be alone than spend more unnecessary time with you!"
Akuma closed the book he was reading and looked straight at Angelie. Sparks started to fly around during their staring contest.
"Suit yourself, you ingrate…! Ugh, don't come crying to me when—"
"Um, Angelie-san. Is something wrong?"
Mizumi approached Angelie and Akuma. Sumire was right behind her.
"Yeah, this is the first time I saw you shout angrily at someone… And I didn't realize you were that close to, um, Jizen-kun?"
Sumire looked at Angelie and Akuma back and forth.
"Well, it's, um, because… You know…"
Angelie was unable to answer directly as her hands were doing erratic movements.
"It's not her fault. She was kind enough to ask me to join your group, seeing as I was by my lonesome. My pride just kicked in and lashed out on her, because I couldn’t accept that I was still without any groupmates."
Akuma made a quick glance at Angelie.
(What… is he doing?)
Angelie started to bite her thumb fingernail.
"I'm sure she just felt pity for someone like me who has no friends, and who am I to turn down such kindness? I'm sorry for the trouble, especially to the both of you. I'm sure you wouldn't want someone like me in your group even more so now."
Akuma hung his head and hid his face from Mizumi and Sumire's view.
"Oh, don't worry about it, Jizen-kun. I'm sure Angelie-san didn't mean to be mad at you. Everyone has their moments. And I somewhat understand what you're going through, Jizen-kun… So, if you're still okay with it, you can join our group."
Mizumi stood closer to Akuma.
"You agree, right, Angelie-san? I know you're kind enough to let this one go. He also did apologize already."
Sumire touched Angelie's arm. She looked at her expecting a favorable reply.
"Of course, he can join… I really wanted him to join which is why I asked in the first place. I'd like to apologize for my behavior, as well…"
Angelie bowed her head. Then, she saw Akuma's smirk.
(He… he made me look like the bad guy. How?!)
"Thank you, Fukushuu-san. Let's have a fun school trip together, shall we?"
Akuma raised his head and smiled at Angelie.
-- 贈り物
が届きました 
-- 推薦
ランキング 
-- 推薦
チケット