Chương 129: Newsworthy
The day was still young, and there were plenty of people that Arata knew that they could meet with. Their only problem with this was trying to find any of them. There were a lot of people around all doing the same thing. This wasn't going to be easy.
"I don't really know everyone's traditions." Arata was unsure on where people would be. Since he only met them just earlier this year, that wasn't something that he ever thought to ask for. "So where do you think some of them might be?"
"This place looks pretty popular." Ayami pointed over a one of the crowds. "If there's that many people. Maybe someone we know is going to be a part of them." It was their only lead, so Arata took her direction and they headed there. This place was really crowded, so even if there was someone that they knew here. It wasn't going to be a simple endeavor.
However, he wasn't about to give up. Arata knew that as long as he stayed focused, they wouldn't get lost. "Here, take my hand." Ayami commanded him so that the two of them wouldn't get separated. He did as he was told and the two of them dove into the sea of people around them, hoping to find their target.
"Oof." As they walked through, Arata was finding it very difficult due to his smaller stature. Most of these people were adults, so he had little chance against them. He would've been swept up in all this if it wasn't for his big sister. They traveled tightly with each other and soon enough, they found themselves on the other side.
"I guess we didn't see anyone in there." Ayami said as they caught their breath. That was not a fun experience for the two of them.
"Probably because the people you know are a little more wiser than that." An elderly voice said to them. Arata turned his head up to see Hine standing before them. "As someone who's done this countless times. Surely it's better to find a place where you can collect your thoughts." She wasn't alone in this. Around her were members of her family. The important one for Arata being Hifumi.
"It's nice to see you again." She smiled, trying her best to not sound to excited in front of her family. "But where's the rest of your family?"
"Well, it's just me and Ayami here." He answered. "Oh I guess the two of you haven't met yet."
"Actually, are you the librarian girl?" Ayami cut in.
"Yes." She replied. "I believe I've seen you in the library studying with Yogi, correct?" That was affirmed, but formal introductions were made anyway. As Arata was going through this day. He realized the number of people he had yet to introduce to Ayami. It was a good thing she already knew the main group with Yogi, otherwise this day would get a lot longer.
"Well, we've already made our prayers." Said Hine. "So we'll let you kids have your fun while I go look for my other companions." Arata figured that his time with the elderly would be coming up soon. So this wasn't going to be the last of her he was going to see.
"So, how has running the library been for you?" Ayami asked when they were alone.
"It's been a joy." She answered. "We were almost shut down, but thanks to Arata we're doing better than ever."
"You saved the library?" There were a lot of things he never told her. Mostly because it sounded really embarrassing for the boy.
"I hope you didn't neglect to inform her that you're also the school's current secretary and treasurer as well." Hifumi had to raise an eyebrow to that response from his family member.
"Thankfully he made mention of that." The way she glared at him got the boy hot under the collar. "I wonder what else you've been hiding from me."
"I-I'm not try to hide anything." He nervously attempted to defend himself. "Anyway, let's just change the subject here. What did you pray for?" Arata turned the attention back onto his friend.
"Just the usual stuff." She responded. "But, I also did have something else. Just that I'd like to keep it private." He was certain on what she was referring to. However, with Ayami here that couldn't be made into a meaningful discussion. That what one would think, if it wasn't for the wonderful time of none other than Yogi.
"Yo, I finally found you." He ran up to them, taking a second to catch his breath as he fought thought this crowd. A little necessary considering he could've just went around them. "The others were wondering where you ended up. We found your parents, but you weren't with them."
"Well, actually me and Ayami were looking for you." Arata responded. "But we ran into Hifumi first, oh and I guess we also saw Ichiri too."
"That's great, she can join if she's not busy with family."
"I'd love to join the rest of you." Hifumi agreed, so things looked like they were going to be brought to another direction here. "Just before we go, could I have a private chat with Arata?" Yogi wasn't sure what that was all about, but he was fine with it. Ayami was definitely fine with this arrangement, since she got to be alone with her crush as they separated.
"I'm taking it that I know what you also wished for." Arata broke their silence when he was certain that they were alone.
"Indeed." She replied. "I know that you've already made your response to me. And I'm aware that there are plenty courting you, but I just can't allow myself to move on..."
"I'm sorry that I was so mean to you about that earlier." Arata admitted something that had been bugging him for months now, yet never had the courage to tell her. "When you confessed to me, I wasn't in the mood for it considering my circumstances." After all, when he learned this fact about her. It was also during the time when he was being blackmailed for the second time. When he had to avoid the people he called friends.
While he may not have accepted her confession. His behavior was very rude towards someone trying to be honest with their own feelings. That's not the type of person he'd consider himself to be.
"So, what am I supposed to take from this?" She asked. "Does that mean I'm still in the running?"
"I don't want to make promises." He responded. "So don't get your hopes up, but I'll be a little bit more considerate in the future."
"That makes me really happy." She had an a mischievous grin on her face. The girl put a finger onto his chest as she neared him. "Perhaps I should just try and take you right now."
"I feel like you wouldn't be doing this if we weren't alone." He slightly took a step back from her forward nature. "Which we aren't by the way… Yurime." He called out their little stalker, the journalist girl hiding in the bushes.
"Aww…" Dejected, the girl revealed herself from the bushes. She had a notepad and pen in her hands. "This could've been a nice scoop for when we got back to school."
"I doubt my relationship status is really something our classmates care about." Arata glared at her. "At least, I hope so."
"I'm surprised that you of all people would want him to get with me?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Arata asked. This was something that was unknown for him, but Hifumi was very well aware of her fellow committee member's secret.
"T-there's nothing w-wrong with being happy if your friends get together, r-right?" Yurime's nervous response made it clear that there was more to the story than meets the eye. Too bad for Arata that he couldn't quite put his finger on it. "A-anyway. I just saw Yogi, and it looked like he was with another girl."
"That' my sister." He answered, much to her shock.
"You have a sister? But I thought I was thorough in my investigation of you." There was pretty much no context to make what she just said sound normal. "Oh well, either way, we should join with them before they get too far." Yurime was more interested in rushing this conversation so that she could avoid the subject Hifumi was trying to bring up.
"Sure, I suppose it'd be a bad thing if we got too separated from them." Arata was a little unhappy that his sister couldn't have more alone time with Yogi. Though he wasn't even sure what their interactions were all about anyway. He wondered what they might even talk about. If she was even attempting to get his attention to consider her as a possible love interest.
So the three of them made their way back to their other companions. That much was easy, and thanks to Yogi. Everyone had now grouped back up with the main cast of his friends. This including Ichiri, much to his surprise.
"I see that your mom let you go free this time." He commented, not in any mocking fashion, but she felt like it was.
"Of course I did." She responded in a flustered nature. "I can take care of myself, so I just made sure she saw the light."
"Actually, I told her I was the school president and she was our friend." Misei jumped into this conversation as a means to be able to talk with Arata. Though this also had the side effect of embarrassing the girl next to her. "So she let me under her watch."
As for the statement she made. It was a lot more extreme than that. Ichiri's mother was a bit, overprotective of her daughter. But she was aware of things surrounding the school, and that Misei was a well known among the parents thanks to her position.
"Well, don't think you can just follow me around all day!" Ichiri felt like she was never going to win today.
"I wasn't…" Sure, that might not be what she promised that girl's mother. But she was confident that Ichiri wasn't the type to get into trouble. "Just don't go too crazy."
"Don't tell me… Okay, I won't" She realized that there was no way she'd win against her. Not to mention that claiming to be a troublemaker isn't her style anyway, even if in spite.
"There you are Arata." Yogi leaped over the back of his friend to greet him once more. "Now everyone's here… Well, except Matsu and the rest of the gardening club. Hope we run into them soon."
"I don't even know if you spend all that much time with them." Arata made no attempt to remove the boy off his back. At this point, he was kind of used to Yogi's physical nature. "So, have you made your prayers for the year?"
"Oh yeah, definitely." Yogi got off and him and points a thumb at himself in an arrogant fashion. "And this time, I added something else too."
"What would that be?" Misei asked.
"Uh, uh, uh." Yogi put a finger over his lips. "That's a secret… For now at least." Arata thought that was a weird statement. That implied that there would be a time that it would be revealed. But when would that be? And more importantly, to whom would it be revealed to? "Now then, let's head to the those stands over there." He pointed them in the direction of his desire. "It's time for us to get our fortunes for the year."
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