"You have a lot of fans who are very loyal to you. So I used that to make money," Suzuno admitted. "I'm sorry. Since I've already done it, I'll split the profits with you."
Daichi couldn't help but laugh at Suzuno's words. "How much did you earn from this?"
“Yeah, not bad. I think it's around…” Suzuno raised her finger. "...20,000 yen."
"What did you do with the money?"
"I spend the money on daily needs. I feed abandoned cats on the street with the other half..."
After hearing Suzuno's words, Daichi fell silent. From a distance, it appears that Suzuno is confessing to Daichi.
Despite the fact that this is not the case.
"I'll not ask for the money you earned from selling my photos, classmate. However, I request that you refrain from doing so in the future. To be honest, it doesn't feel good to be the object of someone else's livelihood." Daichi stated after some thought.
Not asking for a split of money is already a generous thing. Suzuno agreed to Daichi's request as well. Suzuno walked away after apologizing to Daichi once more.
Daichi met another girl not long after. It was a girl from Daichi's club, the short-haired girl Daichi had asked to go home with the day before.
"Nishiyama-san, what a coincidence to meet here," the girl said, smiling brightly.
Daichi first struggled to recall this girl's name.
"Coincidence, Ritsuko Horiguchi-san."
Ritsuko felt awkward when Daichi addressed her by her full name.
"Did you forget my name, Nishiyama-san?"
"Eh, it's obvious, isn't it?" Daichi giggled in embarrassment at being exposed.
"Of course. How could someone you know call you by your full name?" Ritsuko questioned. "It's unfortunate that despite our lengthy friendship at the club, you can't even remember my name."
"I'm sorry, I'm a little forgetful. I swear I'll remember from now on."
Daichi made a serious promise because he saw Shuhei approaching them.
Daichi gathers his wits and thinks quickly in order to avoid and 'get rid of' Shuhei. He even said things he had not planned to say.
"Horiguchi-san, I love you, will you date me?"
Ritsuko flushed. "Uh...."
"I love you. Would you to be my girlfriend?" Daichi said it again. His face was tense, as if he was afraid Ritsuko would not 'accept' his love confession.
In Ritsuko's eyes, Daichi's tense expression meant something else. She assumed Daichi was tense because he was afraid of being rejected.
Daichi Nishiyama is a handsome young man who is an idol. Almost every girl at Sakuraoka High School, including Ritsuko, wishes to date Daichi. And, of course, she didn't squander this opportunity. Ritsuko gave a firm nod.
"Yes, I would like to. I love you too, Nishiyama-san."
Daichi gave a lovely smile. He immediately kissed Ritsuko, causing her to freeze.
That moment caught Shuhei's attention, who happened to be close to the Daichi and Ritsuko.
Shuhei gave the kissing couple a quick glance before walking right past them.
Daichi broke the kiss after Shuhei walked away.
"Sorry, Horiguchi-san, you must be surprised, right?" Daichi's apology sounded genuine.
Meanwhile, Ritsuko's face was as red as a ripe tomato, and she could not even lift her face out of embarrassment. The girl only murmured in response to Daichi's words.
Beautiful girls who are embarrassed usually appear very cute. Any man can't stand the sight of a girl's blushing face. But Daichi didn't. It was not that he was not interested; it was just that his attention was divided, wondering if his action of kissing Ritsuko just now had been noticed by Shuhei.
"Horiguchi-san, do you think our kiss earlier was flashy enough?"
Ritsuko was perplexed by Daichi's question, but she paused for a moment before responding.
"Yeah, it's definitely noticeable because it's in a public place."
"Really?" Daichi muttered, then smiled contentedly. "Then he must have seen it clearly, rightI hope after this he won't bother me again!"
"Nishiyama-san, what are you mumbling about?" Ritsuko asked, her head tilted in confusion.
Daichi felt awkward because his words were almost overheard by others. He performed a signature move that had been proven to be effective while rubbing his nose. "I was just complimenting you on your beauty. Didn't you hear that?"
Ritsuko blushed once more. "Why do you enjoy teasing so much, Nishiyama-san?"
"Of course I enjoy teasing a beautiful girl like you."
The newly 'dating' couple walked hand in hand, and Daichi continued to tease Ritsuko along the way.
•~
Daichi's class has a physical education scheduled for today. The students gathered in the field after everyone had changed their clothes.
"Today we will play basketball," the PE teacher announced after a brief warm-up. "Everyone, let's go to the basketball court."
The students dispersed from the line and proceeded to the basketball court as instructed.
"Nishiyama." The PE teacher abruptly called.
"Yes, sensei?"
"Please assist me in getting the balls into the storage room."
"Alright."
Daichi obediently followed the PE teacher.
Before they even got to the storage room, a male student ran so fast that he almost hit Daichi.
The male student exhaled heavily. "Senpai! Sensei!"
"What's the matter? Why are you running in the middle of class?" the PE teacher inquired.
"I was about to enter the toilet when I noticed someone fighting." The student was still stuttering and pointing to the toilet.
"I'll check." The teacher dashed over. He took a few steps back and turned around. "Oh, Nishiyama, you must first go to the storage room by yourself. Is that alright?"
"Alright, sensei."
The PE teacher walked away with the male student, and Daichi followed in the opposite direction.
This is where class is being held. There was nobody in the corridor. However, Daichi had the impression that someone was watching him from behind.
He checked his surroundings several times but couldn't find anyone.
"Strange. There's no one, but I have the impression that someone is watching..." Daichi mumbled.
That feeling lasted until he got to the storage room.
Looking at the dark storage room made his heart race even faster.
Daichi inhaled deeply and slowly, trying to convince himself that there was not a ghost waiting for him inside.
"Oh, where's the light switch?"
Daichi's hand brushed against the wall near the door. When he found the bulge he was looking for, he was relieved.
The previously pitch-black room was now illuminated by a yellowish lamp that was not too bright.
"It's still preferable to darkness. Okay, I need to hurry up and get the balls. Where is it?"
Daichi noticed no balls in the area. He had to walk further behind the large shelves, whether he liked it or not.
At first glance, he noticed a basketball basket at the far end of the room.
"Ah, there it is!"
Daichi jogged over. Someone grabbed him from behind just as his hand was about to touch the side of the basket.
The pull was unexpected. Daichi, who had no idea what was going to happen, lost his balance and fell to the floor.
"Ouch!"
The fall was quite hard, and Daichi's head felt a little dizzy as a result. He blinked several times in an attempt to wake up.
However, someone had already taken action; an unknown person was sitting on Daichi's stomach and holding him.
"Who are you?"