It was a normal Tuesday, just like any other, but for me, it was another battle. The first period of the morning had just ended, and as I transitioned between classes, I discreetly muttered to Mocha-san as I passed by, "I'm going to be in danger soon. Distract Aria-san for me." I whispered, barely audible enough for only Mocha-san to hear.
Mocha-san looked puzzled. *In danger? From Aria-san?* She began to ponder, wondering what Aria-san could possibly do to make someone as perceptive as her master seek even his apprentice's aid.
Inside the bathroom, as I stared tiredly into the mirror, I muttered, "I got a glimpse of it," recalling a dreadful future I had seen. In my mind, it took the form of a black box containing the one thing I feared.
"I'm not going to let Aria-san feed me spicy food today," I promised myself, noting that her dishes had been getting spicier by the day, and I'm nearly reaching my limit.
With that thought in mind, I collected my composure and returned to the classroom.
...
Upon coming back, Mocha-san leaned close to my ear and asked, "Wh-what's going to happen? H-how bad is it?" She cautiously inquired, unaware of the dilemma I was facing.
With a serious expression, I replied, "It's enough to tear our friendship apart." I dramatized, fully aware of how Aria-san's dishes had been becoming spicier. Sure, I could just refuse when she offers, but that would make less of a shadow hearo of me to show my weakness.
"That bad!?" Mocha-san whispered, her eyes wide with concern.
With an all-knowing gaze, I replied, "You'll see soon enough."
**[Mocha's POV]**
*Something that's enough to tear our friendship apart...* I pondered, worried about what Aria-san might do to ruin our relationship.
Is it just me? I thought we were doing well as a group. To me, Master Yukiya-kun, Aria-san, Hitomi-san, and I were already part of the same circle. I wanted to put in the effort to keep us together, so I'll do everything inn my power to prevent that. *Still, why would Aria-san want to ruin our friendship? I don't get it.*
As I lost myself in thoughts searching for an answer, a gust of wind blew by our classroom, and a piece of paper from Aria-san's desk flew to my feet, almost as if to reveal to me the answer.
With haste, Aria-san grabbed the paper off the floor and casually returned it to her desk. A nervous expression crept across my face as I caught a glimpse of its contents.
*A MARRIAGE REGISTRATION FORM!?* I exclaimed internally, unable to believe what I had just witnessed.
I shook my head in disbelief, *No, no, no! That can't be. Right? It's only the second volume, and the world is ending already!?* I then looked back to what Master Yukiya-kun said this morning, "Distract Aria-san for me."
*Is this what he means? He wanted me to buy time to find an answer on how to resolve this conflict.*
Like Hitomi-san, who was romance that almost ended her friendship with the WHSG, Master Yukiya-kun find himself in a similar situation, and I'm unable to come up with a solution.
And so, as soon as the bell rang, with the excuse of going to the bathroom, I ran as fast as I could toward the second year's classroom. There, I should find one person I know would be willing to help in this specific situation.
Cautiously scanning class 2-B, "P-President Shiori-senpai!" I called out, struggling to catch my breath as I finally saw her.
Shiori-senpai stepped out of the classroom, with urgency, I explained everything to Shiori-senpai, who, to no surprise, was willing to assist in intercepting Aria-san's plans.
"I won't allow it," she said, the fire of objection burning in her fierce gaze.
Later that lunch, dragging Hitomi-san along the way, we devised a plan to thwart Aria-san's intentions.
As we peeked around the corner, Hitomi-san pouted at me, telling me "You should have come to me first." a hint of jealousy evident in her tone.
I quickly apologized, "S-sorry, my mind got jumbled, and I went to Shiori-senpai without thinking." hoping Hitomi-san would understand.
Shiori-senpai then shushed us, signaling us to be quiet.
Peeking around the corner, we spotted Aria-san, who was holding a piece of paper behind her back, talking with Master Yukiya-kun.
I pointed, "Th-that's it! That's the paper! S-she's going to make Yukiya-kun sign it!" I exclaimed silently, pointing at the paper with a pen ready on Aria-san's hand.
As Aria-san was about to pull out her form, Shiori-senpai rushed toward the two, calling out, "Yukiya-kun! I-I need your assistance to inspect some equipment in the gymnasium." It was the random excuse she thought of on the spot as she grabbed Master Yukiya-kun by the arm.
"Eh. Right now?" Master Yukiya-kun asked, a puzzled expression crossing his face over Shiori-senpai's urgency.
"Y-yes, we need to do it now. ASAP," Shiori-senpai insisted, dragging him along.
Master Yukiya-kun still seemed confused until he noticed me watching from a distance, giving him a thumbs-up. Only then did he understand, returning a thumbs-up of his own as Shiori-senpai pulled him away from Aria-san.
The plan was simple. While Shiori-senpai keep Master Yukiya-kun busy throughout the day, the two of us, Hitomi-san and I are in charge of distracting Aria-san, blocking her chance of giving the form.
"Aria-san, let's go to the cafeteria together!" Hitomi-san suggested, popping up from behind Aria-san, linking arms non-consensually.
"Yes, yes. Let's." I backed her up, linking arms on Aria-san's other side, preventing her escape.
"Wait, huh? I already have my lunch box in the classroom." she retaliated, confused.
"Haha, I just want to have your company." Hitomi-san chuckled, being a bit forceful.
"Don't you have Mocha-san already?" Aria-san questioned, noticing that we're being too pushy right now.
"Two companies is better than one" Hitomi-san nodded to her self, to which I backed up, "Y-Yes. That's right. C-cause we're friend." Is what I added, trying to cover for Hitomi-san, as she sounds too forceful, making it suspicious somehow.
Later at our art class, the teacher instructed us to, "Group yourselves into three."
"You-" Before Aria-san could even approach Master Yukiya-kun, Hitomi-san and I approached Aria-san. "Aria-san. Would you like to be on the same group together." We called out, intercepting her attempt as we are lacking one member.
Pondering for a second, Aria-san saw Master Yukiya-kun partnering up with the other boys. After seeing that she replied, "Sure."
The are multiple instances the two almost interacted during class, however, Hitomi-san and I are always there to stop it.
[After school]
As soon as the bell rang, Shiori-senpai came by our room, fetching Master Yukiya-kun for student council work. Of course, the only reason was for Master Yukiya-kun not meet Aria-san.
Chilling at courtyard, I kept Aria-san company.
*I wish Hitomi-san is here but she has class rep work!* I complained internally, thinking *How can someone as socially awkward as me suppose to entertain the ojou-sama!?*
Thinking about how there's more differences than similarities between me and Aria-san, I found myself unable to come up with a topic as there's noting much for us to relate to.
Braking the silence, "So, you two are preventing from speaking with Yukiya-kun, huh." Aria-san casually dropped her suspicion, being so direct on what's on her mind.
"I-I..." Unable to come up with an excuse, I aggressively bowed, "I'm sorry!" i abologetically told her, being caught in the act.
Aria-san grinned, "Don't worry yourself. He's purposely ignoring me anyway" She told me, a hint of sadness to her tone as she spoke her words.
I sighed in relieve, being graced with her benevolence.
Aria-san, as a tsundere, she must have gathered all her strength to even attempt to give that registration form. Upon this sudden realization,
*Wait, what's this?* I felt a sudden tightening in my chest, a passing thought that suddenly weigh on my mind.
Only now that did it dawn on me, *What does Aria-san feel right now?*
I placed my hand on my chin, pondering, *Isn't she scared? The fear of rejection, the consequences of that registration form? Now that I think about it, why a marriage registration form in the first place? Could it be that, she have ran away from home? Form a forced marriage? Is that why she transferred to our school? To meet Yukiya-kun? That's why she must have felt that she's running out of time, so she wanted to go straight to the point.
The more I think about it, the more suspicious it all seems.
*Then, if she get's rejected...* My eyes widened upon the realization.
"Do it," I muttered.
"Ha?" Aria-san raised a brow, looking puzzled.
I held her hand and firmly told her, "Whatever it is that you're suppose to do today, just do it. Let him have it!"
"What are you talking about?" Aria-san inquired, becoming more confused.
I urged her to stand up. Going behind her back, I pushed her forward.
"Yukiya-kun is at the right wing storage room. Go..." I encouraged her, giving her my full support.
Aria-san, confused of what I was trying to do, "Um? Ah, sure." She walked away at a normal pace, mumbling to herself "What was that all about?" still confuse of my was I suddenly driving her away from this place.
Moments after, Hitomi-san came to join us, "Where's Aria san?" Hitomi-san inquired, wondering where our captive sent.
I told her, "She went after Yukiya-kun"
Looking puzzled, "Eh?" Hitomi-san couldn't believe I let Aria-san go just like that. And so she asked, "Why?"
I then proceeded to explain to her everything, from Aria-san being a tsundere, to how I suspect that her transfer could be something bigger than we have expected.
Hitomi-san nodded to my statements, willing to understand. However, she wanted to correct me on one thing, "You know, Aria-san practically confessed on her first day upon transferring. You can't be any more direct than that!" a counter argument towards Aria-san being a tsundere.
"Eh?" Now that I think about it, Hitomi-san is right. Though not fully honest, Aria-san is direct enough for the other person to understand. *Wait, so my suspicion is wrong? Aria-san actually doesn't care about ruining our relationship?*
With urgency to my tone, I said, "We got to stop her!"
*Master Yukiya-kun will give me a scolding for not fulfilling my duties!*
...
After running, trying to stop Aria-san from committing her friendship ending measures, it was already too late. Peaking at the corner, there we found Yukiya-kun, standing in front of Aria-san, seeming to have a confrontation.
Behind our back, Shiori-senpai popped up, asking "What's going on here?" Wondering what are the two of us are doing here instead of distracting Aria-san.
Having the same view as us, Shiori-senpai discovered what it is that is going on. About to interrupt them, I instinctively held back Shiori-senpai, "Let's just see where this goes" still having guilt and doubts about Aria-san's true intentions.
From a distance, Aria-san pulled out a form behind her back, but interrupted halfway through as Master Yukiya-kun bowed before she could even say anything.
*Did she get rejected?* is what we thought, unable to hear their conversation.
A sighed of relief escaped Shiori-senpai, seeing that Aria-san's plan might have failed.
Suddenly, the two started laughing. And we began to wonder why.
Yukiya-kun then held the pen and signed the form Aria-san was giving-
"Wait! Wait! Wait! I object of this!!" Shiori-senpai pulled away the form, cannot believe Master Yukiya-kun just signed the document.
Having a closer inspection, Shiori-senpai muttered, "Wait. This is..."
Aria-san raised a brow, telling Shiori-senpai "What?" glaring as if to as what is she wants to say right now.
Hitomi-san and I came out of hiding, wanting to deescalate what seems to be a growing mess. However, to our surprise, it didn't.
Wondering why, we looked at the paper Shiori-senpai was holding, the one Master Yukiya-kun signed. There revealed all our answers.
"Sports Day Registration Form..." Hitomi-san and I uttered, starting to clear up what seems to be a misunderstanding.
Okay, I may not have been totally honest from the start. I wasn't actually sure what a marriage certificate form look like, I only read the registration part and just assumed it was a marriage certificate form, based on Aria-san's introduction on our first time meeting.
"Mo. Cha. San." Shiori-senpai and Hitomi-san glared at me, as if to point where all the misunderstanding even came from.
'I-I.. I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" I bowed my head repeatedly, understanding it was my mistake, the source of the misunderstanding.
Recalling the words we said this morning, *Y-Yes. That's right. C-cause we're friend.* a small grin crept Aria-san's face. *I guess this isn't too bad after all...*
After all the misunderstandings was settled, we all walked home together, and most of as are satisfied with this conclusion.
...
**[Yukiya's POV]
Walking home together, after everyone left, I was left alone with Mocha-san, almost reaching our corner.
Curious, Mocha-san open her mouth and asked "B-btw, why did you bow earlier? I-Is there something to apologize about?"
Thinking about what she's asking, she must mean at that time, right?
I then replied "I finally came clean and told her I don't like spicy food."
Mocha-san give me a puzzled expression, wondering *What is he talking about?* Fully clueless of my dilemma from earlier.
Since she give a thumbs up earlier, I thought Mocha-san understood, seeing that she even sent Shiori-senpai as an excuse to shield me from Aria-san's spicy bento. So I just assumed we were on the same page this entire time, even now. However, I felt guilty afterwards, not towards Aria-san, but towards the food that's being wasted.
And so our day ended just like that.
"By the way. Did you study for the test this coming Thursday?"
"WHAT TEST!?" Mocha-san exclaimed.
Judging from her reaction, it seems she wasn't aware of it...