As the bell rang students dispersed from the entrance of the school running towards the school gates chanting freedom while others met with friends.
Standing near the lockers waiting was Mio panicking slowly pacing back with worry and panic in her eyes. "Maybe I should back out. I mean I could always try again tomorrow... but Kaito would be disappointed in me after all I said earlier. Then... he would... quit... just like the others."
Mio stood in silence while her hand squeezed her other arm tightly as she stared at the ground.
Why can't I just act on what I want. Why am I such-
"Hey Hanazawa," Kaito, called out while walking towards her.
Mio jolts startled. She whips around to face Kaito surprised by his presence. "Kaito," Mio, said confused.
Kaito stops just a few steps away from her and raises an eyebrow. "Is something wrong?"
"Ah! No no... it's just that I didn't expect you to... come support me," Mio said quietly.
Kaito just tilts his head confused. "Why wouldn't I? I'm the one who offered to help you. I should at least stick around to observe you."
Mio is left speechless unable to think of words to say, but just gazes at Kaito stunned.
"Anyway I won't be so close by so don't count on me helping you directly, but I'll be close enough to hear the conversation, Kaito said flatly.
"Oh okay," Mio said.
Kaito walked ahead. "Alright then let's get started."
Mio rushed closely behind after him. "O-Okay!"
As they finally made their way outside the school, Mio scanned the area for her friends who should be waiting for her to arrive.
Mio finally notices them near the entrance of the school chatting like usual. "Ah there they are."
"Alright just walk over there-talk, and slowly make your way to bringing up about going to karaoke. And don't worry I'll be near, as I mentioned before," Kaito said.
Mio nodded and shuffled her way over. Kaito walked in the opposite direction to be close enough to hear.
Irashi and Akane stood near the gate entrance to school chatting loudly, until they noticed Mio approaching them.
Irashi spoke up first waving at Mio with a huge smile on her face. "Hanazawa! What took you so long! I thought you would never show up!
Akane formed a small smug expression on her face. "Don't tell me you got lost within a crowd of students again searching for us," she chuckled.
Mio forms a small sheepish smile. "Nothing like that I was just busy doing something before I came over. And that was only one time by the way."
Akane shakes her head. "Sure, but it lasted for 20 minutes straight of you being lost."
Mio opened her mouth to retort against the matter but couldn't think of anything to say back.
Silence washes over the trio as they stand in place. Waiting for Mio to speak until she closed her mouth and didn't say anything after all.
Interrupting the silence, Irashi spoke up. "Oh yeah! Mio, the weirdest thing happened to me earlier today."
Akane blinks in confusion until her eye widened in remembrance. "Oh right... I almost forgot about that. It was a real surprise."
"What happened," Mio said curious.
"You know Wakamatsu right? The one who plays soccer," Irashi said.
Mio eyes widened. She couldn't speak her mouth wouldn't even open.
Kaito watching from nearby noticed this.
That's weird... why is Mio reacting like this to hearing Ryota being mentioned. Kaito pondered for a second until he suddenly remembered a piece of info he forgot since it was useless to him. Oh that's right. Ryota stopped helping Mio the very next day after I talked to him the day before. I never asked Mio what happened because I felt no need to pry, but I think I could guess what happened exactly. Hmmm. This is undoubtedly my fault isn't it?
"Hanazawa," Irashi calls out.
Mio snaps out her daze and lets out a soft nervous laugh. "Ha. S-sorry, sorry I... uh spaced out there for a second, but um... y-yes I do know Wakamatsu. What about him?"
"Well today in class me and Akane were having a regular chat like usual," Irashi said remembering events."
{Flash back}
Irashi slams her hands on Akane's desk with a face full of panic. "Please tell meeeee you jotted down the notes, because I totally zoned out mid lesson?"
Akane chuckles to herself with a smug look plastered on her face. "Heh... Of course not."
"That's not something to be smug about," Irashi shouts in distress.
While Irashi shook Akane talking about how screwed she is, a figure approached them both with a box wrapped in a red ribbon.
"Excuse me," said the voice.
Irashi and Akane both stopped what they were doing and took a look at the person who was speaking.
Akane narrowed her eyes looking the person up and down until her eyes widened once she came upon the realization of who it was. "Hey aren't you Wakamatsu?"
Ryota looks at them shocked. "I didn't expect you or you two to already know me."
"What? why wouldn't we know who you are. You're like the most popular boy on our school's soccer team," Irashi said confused.
Ryota rubbed the back of his neck a bit embarrassed. "Oh that's right... I guess I am pretty popular."
Akane leans forward a bit still smug. "So what can we do for Mr.Popularrrr~."
Ryota hesitates to speak while glancing at the wrapped box in his hands, and at Irashi who's looking at him curiously. "I-I uhhh... just wan-"
Akane notices Ryota's glances and smirks at herself thinking she has an idea of what's going on. "Well then Irashi why don't you figure out what Mr. Popular wants while I go return this book to the library."
Before Irashi could respond, Akane already took the time to run out the classroom. "But she doesn't even go to the library." Irashi just sighs to herself before looking back at Ryota with a smile. "So Mr. Popular how can someone like me help you."
Ryota stayed silent as his grip on the box tightens and his glare on the box strengthens.
Irashi noticed his silence which caused her to become a bit worried. "Wakamatsu?"
Ryota suddenly leaned forward holding the box out towards Irashi. "Please accept this from me, Ryota shouted"
Irashi couldn't help but to back up-not out of disgust, but from the surprise of the gesture being made towards her. She couldn't speak or say much of anything, but when she noticed others in the classroom watching, all she could do was feel her heart racing and her face heating.
She slowly took the box from Ryota's hands and took the chance to look away from him. "T-Thank you Wakamatsu.
Wakamatsu stood back up tall and stayed silent.
The room was filled with murmurs from other students who were watching the spectacle.
Before Irashi could speak Wakamatsu interrupted with a panicked speech. "W-Well I hope you enjoy i-it."
Not even a second after, he rushed out of the classroom not sparring anymore words leaving Irashi, to stand there alone confused and flustered.
{End of flash back}
Akane, giggles out loud. "Hanazawa you should've seen it-Irashi was so flustered that she couldn't speak for 10 minutes straight."
Irashi turns towards Akane shouting. "How else was I supposed to react to something so surprising like that?!"
Mio stayed silent for a while trying to process everything that was said, until she felt the need to finally try to talk and ask questions. "So what was in the box?"
"Oh well it was some chocolates and some other kinds of special sweets. They were all very tasty too," Irashi said softly.
Akane poked at Irashi. "Looks who's already breaking their words despite saying they would lay off the sweets."
Irashi took a jab back at Akane. "That was an exception!"
Akane just laughs while dodging her. "That's what they all say!"
Mio just observed them letting the mood settle a bit as she tried to gather up her courage for when she needed to bring up the topic.
Irashi stopped trying to get back at Akane while and just folded her arms frustration. "Hey Hanazaw can-" Irashi eyes landed upon Mio was deep in thought with an anxiousness plastered all over.
As Akane noticed, her smug expression dropped as her concern grew. "Hey Hanazawa? Is everything ok?"
Mio snapped away from her thoughts as she heard her name being called for. "S-sorry just lost in thought. Did you say something?"
Irashi spoke up first. "Hanazawa is everything okay? You've been more quiet than usual... well you're always quiet but you never looked so worried before."
Akane spoke up as well in worry. "Yea if something is wrong you can always tell us and we'll help you fix it."
Mio panicked trying to reassure them waving her hands around. "No, No, no I'm fine it's just that I'm." Mio pauses at her words in stress unsure if she actually follow through with this, until she notices Kaito out the corner of her eye.
Kaito holds his hands up next to his mouth-mouthing the words "you got this," and then brings one of his hands away from his face to make a thumbs up.
Right...I can't let Kaito down... I can't let myself down, Mio thought.
"I uhm... actually wanted to know if you guys wanted to... go karaoke," Mio said quietly.
There was just a moment of silence between the trio of girls. No other sounds but the chattering of students planning their day after school.
Hanazawa, Irashi called out softly.
Mio winced preparing herself for whatever their response was.
Irashi suddenly grabbed onto Mio's shoulders shouting. "I thought you would never ask! I've been waiting for this moment since we've become friends!"
Akane springs right over next to Mio, also shouting in excitement. "We've always wanted to hangout with you, but we didn't want to make you uncomfortable by making you feel forced into joining. But now that you asked yourself we can finally do it!"
Mio couldn't speak due to the sheer bewilderment that was washing over her.
"So what made you ask," Akane asked.
Mio hesitated to answer but mustered up the courage to answer anyway. "Well I wanted to be able to... talk to you guys more. I always felt like I was holding back the conversations and not offering anything. So I thought... stepping out of my comfort zone could help me become closer and hopefully help me become more confident to talk to you guys.
Before Mio could even look them in their eyes she was suddenly embraced by Irashi and Akane.
"Mio you small dummy. We never thought you were holding back the conversations. If anything we were always happy just to hear you talk to us, Irashi shouted."
Akane patted her head simultaneously while one arm wrapped around them. "Like she said, we always enjoyed your company and we were always just happy enough to see you talk. If anything we were more worried that you didn't like us."
"No! you two never did anything for me not to like you. I was...no I am just shy. I only became friends with you guys until three weeks ago so I haven't properly adjusted to talking to you two. But now that I'm actually talking to you two like this I can't help but feel stupid, Mio said.
The trio stayed huddled together in silence before bursting out in laughter, including Mio as well.
Kaito continued to watch this scene and let out a sigh.
That worked perfectly. I knew she could do this herself. She just needed a push in the right direction. Though of course this doesn't mean it will be this easy for others, and I still have to deal with whatever threat decides to show up. That goddess proved not even to be useful in the end despite my guess if she was behind whatever shows up in the future. Guess I'll just need to deal with everything myself after all. ...How annoying.
Irashi started to drag Mio along hurriedly. "Hurry Hurry let's go before all the rooms are taken!"
Akane sighs while smiling. "I highly doubt that would happen so there isn't a need to rush really."
Mio smiled slightly as she allowed herself to be dragged along until a thought formed into her head.
Wait if I'm going to karaoke then I would have too... sing.... Oh No, Oh No, No No Nooo I can't do that! I can't possibly go singing in front of them like that. But it's too late to back outtttt. They look so happyyyyyy! I can't just chicken out nowwwww! What do I do!
Mio looked around frantically while being dragged until she noticed Kaito who's preparing to leave.
"H-Hey guys can we bring along one more person please," Mio shouted panicked.
Irashi and Akane stopped in their tracks and looked at each other with a shrug.
"I don't see why not. The more the merrier," Irashi said excited.
Akane nodded agreeing. "Yeah. Besides I'm curious who are planning to bring."
Mio pulls away from Irashi, turning to run after Kaito. "Thank you! Please just wait for a quick second!"
Mio runs away for the two and chases down after Kaito who surprisingly walks very fast. "K-Kaito please slow down!'
Kaito turns around with an eyebrow raised. "Hanazawa? Aren't you supposed to be joining your friends on the way to Karaoke right now?"
Mio panics while fidgeting with her fingers. "W-well I never really hung out with... anyone before, nevertheless actually singed in front of people. So I wanted you to come along to... help me."
Mio didn't look Kaito in the eyes and just continued to gaze at the ground.
Kaito just stood there silent thinking to himself.
I saw this coming but I hoped that I didn't have to tag along. I can't even say no either, because it would destroy my acting of Hiroshi. He would definitely tag along with Mio to karaoke. Meaning... I would unfortunately also have to attend. How fun...
"Alright let's go," Kaito said.
Mio looked up at him in surprise. "R-really?"
Kaito walked ahead waving his hand. "Yea, besides I have nothing else planned today so I might as well join in don't you think?"
Mio smiled behind him before speed walking after him. "Yeah."