"Mitsumune-senpai's calling for you."

Shuuya couldn't help but tilt her head in confusion.

Her friends, who were originally playing a mobile game with her, eyed her concernedly.

"Are you really going to meet her?"

"That...isn't it Ayane-san? Maeda-senpai's rumored ex-girlfriend?"

"Don't go. Who knows if she'll do something despicable."

"Then why don't you guys accompany me," She stands up and pockets her phone.

At this, her friends turned silent. Shuuya could only sigh.

"Just wait here. She's a senpai, so I can't just leave her hanging." she then goes to her classmate who brought the message to ask for the location of the meetup.

"She says to meet under the old tree."

"Okay,"

It wasn't new for students to arrange meet-ups at the old tree that was in the middle of the school's track. Usually, people confess their feelings under said tree. Those with thick faces will even have picnic dates under it.

She doesn't particularly know why the bijin would want to meet her here.

It was already five minutes. Shuuya was leaning on the huge tree's thick trunk, waiting for the other girl to come.

"What's she planning to do this time?" she couldn't help but wonder.

"Shuuya-san!"

Shuuya almost spat out blood in shock.

Nobody else calls her by the first name, except her parents and...a certain male senpai. But now she finds that another person will dare to have a thick face and test their distance.

"...Mitsumune-senpai," Shuuya forces a smile as she meets the other's bright face.

What happened to her fierceness? The girl in front of her was a completely different person. It was like a docile rabbit!

"Shuuya-san listen. The other day... I apologize for my actions."

Huh. "It's okay, misunderstandings happen."

It was a pleasant surprise. She didn't expect this senpai to own up to her mistakes.

"Yes, you see, I was letting my emotions take over me. It was never my intention to pick a fight with you."

"Haha,"

"That's why, I made you this lunchbox in apology!"

"...?"

She was handed a square plastic container. It was kind of warm.

Isn't this a bit too much?

"...Mitsumune-senpai, I couldn't possibly accept this—"

"Nonsense!" The woman smiled cheekily as she forces the lunchbox to her chest. "Please accept my apology, and gratitude for being forgiven for my sins!"

"But—"

"If you don't accept this, I will jump down the fifth floor."

"..."

"Just kidding!" Ayane flashes a playful pose.

"..." Shuuya had no words.

"Also, today's dish is tonkatsu."

"..."

"Hope you enjoy it! Goodbye!!" and she leaves just like that.

"..." The amount of shock given to her was immesurable.

***

Yuma's usual stoic expression was immediately replaced with a gentle smile once he saw a familiar girl walking towards him.

"How was school today?"

It was a question he frequently asked whenever they went home together, so she didn't fuss too much about it anymore.

"Fine. By the way, your ex-girlfriend called me out today."

"...what?" Yuma almost choked on air in shock. "Ayane?"

"Yeah." she nods.

"Did she bully you?" His face darkened. Shuuya glanced at him and saw his ugly expression, making her stifle a laugh.

"You're overreacting. She gave me lunch."

"Lunch?" He didn't expect this development.

But neither did she. "I don't know why. I was actually thinking if she put anything there."

"Did you eat it?"

"..."

"...did you eat it?" He asked once again, catiously.

"Well I mean, she wouldn't poison me in broad daylight, would she?"

Yuma could only sigh at her helplessly. This woman...

***

The next day, Ayane almost thought she was still asleep, dreaming.

Yuma-kun called me out! She didn't expect her strategy on wooing her way from his relative to him would actually work instantly.

As they stood in the soils of the behinds of building c, she prepared herself to see his much more amiable self, but only to be let down almost immediately.

The atmosphere was too heavy, and it was obvious that he was realeasing a menacing aura.

"Y-Yuma-kun..."

"Didn't I tell you to stay away from Shuuya?"

Ayane flinched once the other took a step closer. "I-I'm sorry! But you're misunderstanding something—I didn't do anything bad to her!!"

He scoffs at her terrified expression. "What are you planning?"

"I—I actually just called her to apologize! Apologize for the misunderstanding I created!"

"..."

Seeing him finally silent and not seething in anger, she rushed to explain more. "In—in fact, after that I planned to not disturb her ever again!"

That was actually a lie. But facing this angry giant, she could only appease him.

"Are you telling the truth?"

"Y—yes! If you don't believe me, why do you think I kept you being cousins with her a secret?"

"....cousins?" Yuma deadpans.

"I would never tell anyone that you two are family members."

This misunderstanding again? Yuma was about to open his mouth to correct her but stopped himself. Nevermind. It works this way too.

"...just make sure to keep your promise." He then leaves the girl to herself again, and once he did, she finally gave in to pressure and fell to her knees.

***

"—oh, and before I end this class, I just want to inform you about your project."

A few grunts, complaints, and sarcasm were cast in the air of the classroom, but it was as if the person in front didn't hear any of it.

"You're going to document a day in the life of a graduating senpai in video form, and it should consist interview rounds. However, the catch is, you have to have an English translation in your video and write a reflection paper in pure English,"

"What?"

"This project is unexpectedly..."

"Isn't the difficulty a bit too much?"

"The purpose of this project is to not only hasten your English, but for you to get a glimpse of what it's like to be a graduating student. Now that you're in the final stage of high school, it's only natural for you to be aware of the future and take school seriously."

"Excuse me," a student raised their hand and was called. "But how do we get a senpai to be interviewed?"

"It's up to you," The elderly woman raised her eyebrow at her nonchalantly. "After all, making connections by yourself is also a skill you need to learn and use in the adult world."

"Oh come on,"

"Are you serious?"

"This is too embarrassing."

Shuuya frowns her brows. Indeed, it was too much work for a first semester project. Though who was she to complain? She was only a measly, powerless student.

But who am I going to interview? It didn't take even a second before a face appeared to mind.

"Ugh..." she could only bury her head in her hands in frustration.

To ask a favor from that guy.... Shuuya almost puked out blood. To be indebted to him...

She still doesn't know his mind. Who knows what favors he'll ask of her after this.

Should I do it anyway? It was a project afterall. And he was the only senpai she's in *close* contact with.

...Do I really have to?

But the man's already standing in front of her. He was still at his usual spot, waiting for her. And once he saw her, he brightened up just as fast.

"Shuuy—"

"You—!"

Yuma paused and was taken aback at the sudden loudness of her voice.

But as he stared down at her, he found her looking at him silently, and the staring seemed to stretch longer than oblivion.

He felt ticklish under her hot gaze. Unconciously, his hand wondered to his face.

"Do I... look weird?"

"DO YOU—"

"!?"

The words was too embarrasing. It felt like she was spouting out rocks.

However, Yuma was more curious after seeing her face, neck, and ears slowly turn red as a tomato.

"DOYOUWANTTOBEINANINTERVIEW,"

"Huh?" he couldn't understand her fast-talking.

Shuuya almost died there at the spot. Asking her to say it again is a bit...

Ah, fine! Whatever!

"Interview!"

"?"

"I'm going to interview you for our project!! Okay!?" she couldn't let him see her face anymore. She walked passed him and amped up her walking speed.

It took a while for Yuma to realize what had just happened, before his long legs immediately caught up with the girl's pace and happily walked by her side.

"Okay,"