CHAPTER 5 - August Affections (3)

[A GIRL IN YUKATA]

While Chiba was contemplating if he should invite Hayami to the festival tonight, a large yellow creature appeared outside his bedroom. Stuck on the window, Korosensei started sobbing as he begged for him to come to the summer festival with everyone.

Chiba could not refuse. At least she was also coming.

He was already waiting by the entrance of the shrine, leaning on the wall, when Hayami arrived at 6:00 pm. He was wearing his usual beanie, collared button-down shirt, and chino pants.

"You're early as always," she told him.

He straightened up, his eyes traveling from her head to toe. "You are wearing a yukata," he pointed out with a small smile.

With a stoic expression on her face, she crossed her arms and replied, "Don't get the wrong idea. The other girls have planned to wear one."

After meeting up with everyone else, Kaede Kayano started to fuss over Hayami as to how she looked 'cute' in a yukata.

The green-haired girl, then, glanced to the boy standing beside Hayami. "How about you, Chiba-kun? Do you think that Hayami-san is cute?"

Hayami whirled her head at him, who hummed with a nod. This caught her off-guard, making her think that he was still under the influence of a truth serum right now.

"Thanks," she uttered shyly.

***

Watching the fireworks with everyone brought unexplainable joy to the two snipers. Their arms almost brushing together, they marveled at the blooming colors in the sky. The weight of the prizes that they had won in the shooting booth, the noise of the crowd, the scent of gunpowder and smoke – all were tucked away in the back of their minds.

A lot has happened since Korosensei became their target and teacher. Ironically, the person that they were supposed to kill also became the best teacher they could ever have.

Aware of the comfort they have been feeling from their proximity, they caught each other's gaze and knew what the other one was thinking,

'I hope this year never ends.'

Everyone went on their separate ways when the show was over. Chiba offered to walk Hayami to the bus station. They carried the prizes in their arms as they passed through the stalls. Due to their training, this was nothing for them although the pain in Hayami's foot could not be ignored.

"Does it hurt?" Chiba asked after looking down at her wound inflicted by her wooden sandals.

"A bit." She shifted her arms, tightening her jaw when she had felt one of the prizes sliding.

With his eyes on her, he said, "You should rest there." He pointed on the nearby wooden bench. "Wait for me." Then he ran off to a stand where a middle-aged man was selling drinks.

"Ojisan, do you have any bags?" Chiba asked the vendor.

The vendor looked at him before glancing at Hayami who was sitting opposite them. "I have paper bags, boy." He pulled out two brown paper bags. "Here. Let me help you with that," he said as he opened one of them for Chiba to put in his stuff.

"We don't want your girlfriend waiting," he added.

"She's not my girlfriend."

The vendor rummaged through his cooler as he chuckled. "No need to be shy." He handed out two soda cans to Chiba. "These are on me. Now give one to her. Make sure she's resting well, boy," he said, giving the raven-haired a slap on his back.

"Thank you," said Chiba reluctantly.

When he had returned, he helped Hayami fill the paper bag with her prizes. After that, he gave her the soda before opening his own.

"Thank you," she said, looking up at him who was taking a gulp. "How much is it?"

She was about to open her purse when he quickly intervened. "It's okay. That old man gave these drinks for free."

"That's nice of him." She sipped from her soda can.

He hummed, then, remembered something. "How is your foot?" he asked.

Her eyes darted to her right foot upon raising it a bit. "I already put a band-aid, so it doesn't hurt anymore."

"That's good." He sat down beside her, his elbows propped on his knees as he continued to drink without a word.

"It's finally the second semester," said Hayami while staring at her soda can wrapped between her hands.

He did not utter a reply.

Out of nowhere, her thoughts drifted to that night – when she had played truth or dare with some of their classmates – in which Chiba answered that question given to him. She wondered if he would have the same reply without the truth serum this time. Except, of course, for the last part regarding her on a swimsuit.

"Chiba, what do you think of me right now?"

Her question has sent him a tingling sensation as if he had heard it before. Unlike that time, it took him a few seconds to come up with an answer.

The corners of his mouth turned up. "You're a good partner. That's why I have respect for you."

There was a delay just as though there was another line coming. But he had stopped there and Hayami did not know what to make of it. Still, she appreciated his honesty – for the most part.

"I see." She faced forward, eyes back to the ground.

"Why do you ask?"

"Nothing."

Upon hearing that word from her for the second time, Chiba felt like that her 'nothing' was actually something.