Complicated relations pt.1

"Um, excuse me?"

The trio heard someone as they turned around to see Akane. Currently they were having lunch on the roof, as it was less bothersome. Especially for Ryota who would keep getting stares from almost all the students with only a few exceptions.

"You're finally here, Hiyama-san," Onodera said going towards Akane and pulling her closer towards them.

"You guys might already know her, after all, she is one the beauties of our school." Onodera said, "I invited her to join us for lunch."

"Nice to meet you, Hiyama-san. I am Ichijou Raku." Raku and Onodera not so secretly gave each other thumbs up as Ryota looked at them with his lips twitching. 'I thought it was about time you guys gave up.'

Raku nudged Ryota signaling him to talk to her. Ryota looked over at the nervous Akane whose expression was honestly too cute. Ryota raised his hands towards her, "I am Kise Ryota but you can just call me Ryota."

Akane shook his hand with a gentle smile and a slight blush, "Hiyama Akane, you can also call me Akane- if you like that is."

"I would love that." Ryota said with a smile as he shifted away little giving her space by his side, "Please join us."

Akane looked shy but didn't refuse at all, as she sat next to him. "I hope I am not interrupting."

Raku and Onodera who had heard about his playboy days from Hayato looked at the scenario, judging him as to how casual he was with the whole scenario.

"By the way, congratulation Ryota-kun." Akane said suddenly as all of them wondered what it was about, "You guys don't know?"

Seeing them shake their heads, Akane took out her phone and showed them the picture of a billboard, where Ryota was dressed in casual attire. He was wearing jeans jacket and pants, with a white t-shirt. His blond hair wet and styled perfectly, and most importantly his golden eyes which looked domineering and confident. It was clear to see, that his looks alone made the cheap-looking advertising expensive.

Raku just stared with his eyes wide open and Onodera unknowingly had started blushing.

"Oh! I forget they were putting it today." Ryota said as he nodded at how good the pictures came out, "But anyway, thank you Akane-san."

"What do you mean you forgot?" Raku said, "Isn't this a big deal?"

"It's just a couple of billboards that's all, the clothing company is quite new and no one even knows them." Ryota explained, "From what my agent told me, the picture is likely to be there only for a month or two."

'Besides I am going to be a successor of Arima corporation in a matter of weeks, so I don't really have to worry about my modeling career too much.' Ryota said to himself.

"But this is really quite the achievement." Onodera said, "I am sure this will bring you a lot of attention."

"Yeah, I could see a lot of girls taking the picture of the billboard when I was heading to school." Akane said with a stiff expression, "I honestly think that this would help you and that company get a lot of publicity."

Ryota smiled, "So seeing you have the picture of it, I assume that you like it too, right Akane-san?"

Akane getting shy nodded not expecting Ryota to ask her that.

"Hmm, I wonder if I should keep that hairstyle then," Ryota said, "Or do you like this one better."

"I think Ryota-kun would look good in any hairstyle," Akane said seriously but watching Ryota's teasing expression, she couldn't help but get flustered.

Ryota looked at her cute expressions wondering how she could be the devil, Onizuka was describing but then again he didn't really quite get as to why she liked him so much. But he decided not to think much about it, after all, he had a lot of girls in the past just fall for him because of his looks, so it was nothing out of the ordinary.

Lunch break was over as they headed for their class, Ryota could see Onodera and Raku look at him weirdly. "What is it?" He asked,

"I didn't really expect you to be so good with girls." Raku said as Onodera nodding followed, "Yeah, looking at it now, you didn't really need our help, did you?"

"Of course not. I am an A-class playboy after all." Ryota chuckled, "I just had a lot of things on my mind, so I wasn't really into flirting with anyone."

Raku and Onodera were speechless, as they wondered if they going to be blamed when Ryota might start cheating on Akane if they ever get together. They looked at each other and sighed, hoping that scenario would never become reality.

Just as classes ended as Ryota received a text.

"What is it?" Raku asked.

"My aunt is busy so she won't be able to drop me off." Ryota said.

"Then we can go together, Ryota-kun." Akane suggested as she played with her fingers, "Since we both go the same direction."

Ryota wanted to reject since he wanted to head back to Raku's to have a spar with Ryuu but seeing Raku who kept nudging at him and sending him winks made him a bit too annoyed. "Sure, let's do that."

"I have to go out with my dad today, so I am in a rush," Raku said as he quickly headed out of the class.

"M-Me too, I have a lot of work at my shop today. So I have got to leave, goodbye." Onodera rushed out of the class before they could even say a word leaving Akane and Ryota alone.

"These guys..." Ryota sighed seeing them act like matchmakers when they both were too dense for their own good, "I apologize for their behavior, Akane-san. Even I am having a hard time figuring them out today."

"It's okay," Akane said shaking her head.

"I am talking about what Kosakicchi said earlier to you as well." Ryota said, "I know it might have been awkward for you."

"It's really fine, Ryota-kun." Akane said smiling sweetly, "After all, Onodera-san gave me a lot of courage today and she helped me understand that I needed to do something as well."

"Well if you're fine with it then it's okay, I guess." Ryota shrugged, "Let's go."

They headed out of the class having small chit-chats as they reached their shoe locker. As soon as Ryota opened his lock, a letter fell out of the cabinet. Ryota sighed as he picked up the letter and quickly read through the whole thing. Not caring much, he kept the letter in his pocket.

"What was that, Ryota-kun?" Suddenly hearing Akane's voice made Ryota jump a little as he looked back at her wondering how long she had been there.

"It's a love letter." Ryota said casually as he began tying his shoes. Luckily he wasn't looking at Akane's current expression right now as he would have been truly terrified for sure.

"Is it?" Akane said, "Who is it from?"

"Don't know, don't care." Ryota said, "But it's quite annoying seeing it begin again."

"You don't care?" Akane asked her expression completely changed to a surprised one.

"Of course not." Ryota said, "If I begin dating everyone who has ever asked me out, I'd currently be having something more than a harem."

"Ryota-kun, if you don't mind me asking, how many times have you been confessed till now?"

"Around 60 times, directly and indirectly, combined."