Chapter Three

Growing Further Apart

After Fuyuka had paid off her debt in full, Asahi realized that they had reverted back to their previous relationship; one of minimal interaction. No longer were there any mutual greetings if they crossed paths, nor did they spark up any random conversations.

Her demeanor at school hadn’t changed—she was as cold and aloof as ever. Rumors about her continued to spread, just as they always had.

Had it all been a dream? Asahi wondered. He could recall her embarrassed expression when her stomach growled that day, as well as the sensation of his heart skipping a beat when she showed him that beautiful smile of hers.

A week had passed, and Fuyuka and Asahi had regressed to being nothing more than strangers. Everything had returned to how it was before.

“Damn, dude—I had no idea you were that smart.”

“Well, next to you, anybody’d be considered a genius.”

“Pfft. That’s a low blow, buddy. At least try comparing yourself to someone who doesn’t struggle to pass.”

Asahi, Chiaki, and the rest of the class had gotten their tests returned earlier that day, and everyone was looking at their scores and comparing them. They were finally starting to relax after what had been a brutal exam week. When he scanned the class, Asahi could see a wide variety of emotions ranging from absolute despair to pure elation. Chiaki’s case was somewhat unusual—his grades were terrible, but he couldn’t help but chuckle the moment he received them.

“You ended up 30th out of the 300 students in school, though. Pretty insane, if I do say so myself. Did you use some kinda special technique to study or somethin’?”

“I guess you could call it that.”

“Come on, dude, fill me in—I gotta know how to rack up those easy points.”

“Let’s just say I had someone help me out a bit.”

“Oh, I see. Then how about you help me next ti—”

“Hey, don’t push it. Just be happy that I told you my secret.”

Asahi examined his score sheet while he drowned out Chiaki’s endless ranting. They were the best marks he’d managed to receive so far that year. Although his standard studying methods were enough to ensure that he passed with satisfactory grades, they were nothing spectacular. He wasn’t the biggest proponent of Chiaki’s method of cramming the week before—or, hell, even the day before—an exam in an attempt to barely pass. Instead, he preferred to study a small amount each day. That way, he could ensure that his grades would be good enough to pass, but he could also avoid being showered with any unwanted attention.

This time, things were different, however—his grades were significantly higher than they normally were. It had been enough to grant him a spot in the top 10% of the entire school, a feat he’d never pulled off before. The reason was obvious: Fuyuka had helped him study math a week ago. Having the genius who consistently ranked at the top of the school assisting with one’s studies would certainly make a difference. But he figured divulging his “secret studying method” to Chiaki would end up being more trouble than it was worth, so he decided to change the topic.

“Anyways, it’s no wonder your grades blow—all you do is waste time with your girlfriend.”

“What can I say, dude. Gotta give my cutie the attention she deserves.”

“Whatever floats your boat, I guess, but you’re only proving my point.”

To enter any specific Japanese high school, it was required that you pass their entrance exam with a minimum score. Since Asahi and Chiaki attended the same school, it meant that both of them were capable of achieving the same grades. The reason behind their staggering difference was the priority each was willing to give to their studies. After all, Chiaki was a clever and witty guy. If he made an effort, he was certainly capable of doing as well as Asahi... or even better. His main priority was his girlfriend. That caused both him and his girlfriend to be in sync when it came to their grades—hers also weren’t the highest, to say the least.

“If you had a girlfriend, you’d get my struggle. We’d definitely be taking the same supplementary classes.”

“God. If that ever happened, my parents would force me to live with them again. That’d be rough.”

“Wait... that’d mean I couldn’t crash at your place anymore, right?”

“Pretty much.”

“Okay. Sorry to break it to you, man, but I ain’t letting you get a girlfriend.”

That was pretty apparent to Asahi already. It wasn’t like he was actively seeking a girlfriend at the moment, anyway. He didn’t have a crush on anyone, and he didn’t feel the need to get all cozy and lovey-dovey with someone else, unlike Chiaki. For the time being, studying and getting good grades was his number one priority; he could find a girlfriend later.

“Gotta say—you give me serious “Ice Queen” vibes when you say stuff like that.”

“What does Himuro have to do with anything?”

“I just feel like you two are lackin’ some lovin’, if you catch my drift. You need to work on yourself a little more if you want to achieve that goal, though.”

“Would you shut up already? You’re being a real pain right now.”

“That’s what I’m talking about! Just try smiling a little more, y’know? The hair needs some work, too. I mean, you’re a pretty good-looking guy, man. Don’t let yourself go like this.”

Didn’t know you were the expert on beauty now, Chiaki. Man... I’d love to tell him that, but I’ll just shut up, Asahi thought.

He was well aware that he was weird, and that he wasn’t looking to be in a relationship. The truth was, Asahi wasn’t the chatty type. He disliked long discussions, and the thought of forcing himself to act differently just to try and hook up with someone was off-putting. It would be strange for both him and everyone else if he suddenly became a social butterfly, so he preferred to stay true to himself... even if doing that meant being compared to The Ice Queen.

Not to mention that he had no idea how Chiaki had assessed that he was “good-looking.” No one but his friend had ever told him that. He didn’t think of himself as someone who was outstandingly attractive.

To sum things up—Asahi didn’t want a relationship. The thought of spending time or money on someone else was unappealing, since studying was his main concern. Add to the fact that he’d likely have to change his attitude to please someone else, and his mind was basically set in stone. All in all, he understood where Chiaki was coming from, but he simply wasn’t interested.

“Let’s not talk about this anymore. I’m exhausted.”

“Oh, come on! You’re such a buzzkill. And I was just getting to the good part where I give you a crash course on how to become the school’s lady killer.”

“That alone is already scaring me a bit. I’m done with this, at any rate.”

“Don’t be like that, man. I bet there’re tons of girls out there ready and waiting for you to follow my guidelines.”

“Quit making shit up. You’re the only one who wants me to do that.”

“You just need someone to tell yo—oh, speak of the devil.”

Chiaki grinned, which gave Asahi goosebumps. He had a bad feeling about what was to come next. He turned around only to spot his “greatest enemy,” sapping what little remaining energy he had left.

“Chii-pie! Asahi! How were the tests, guys? Mine turned out horrible!”

“Perfect timing, Hina. You gotta help me formulate a plan so Asahi can become a ladies’ man!” Chiaki said.

“That... sounds super fun, actually! Don’t tell me that Asahi finally has the hots for someone!”

“Would you two just calm down?” Asahi grumbled.

The girl that had just entered their class was none other than Hinami Aiba. She’d burst in with her usual cheerful smile plastered on her face. Her appearance was rather charming in its own way—she had a cute brown bob which perfectly framed her small features. She was always incredibly upbeat and energetic, and could easily make herself the center of attention with her rowdy antics.

Since she was the complete opposite of Asahi, she was the type who drained his energy at an alarming rate. If it weren’t for the fact that she was Chiaki’s girlfriend, Asahi would never even dare approach someone like her. And although Asahi considered her to be his “greatest enemy,” the two actually had a good relationship.

“Since the tests are already over, I bet you two have nothing to do after school today. How about we go to that family restaurant nearby and hang out?” Chiaki proposed.

“Can I refuse?”

“Obviously not!”

“Then why even ask me in the first place...?”

When the couple teamed up against Asahi, he could do nothing to stop them. Since he knew he couldn’t escape from this situation, he figured the best course of action would simply be to sigh and go along with their proposal.

*

After he’d spent a couple of hours with Chiaki and Hinami, Asahi finally decided to return home. A large portion of it had been spent third-wheeling as the couple flirted with each other. The rest had been filled by what he considered to be “pointless drivel” about romance and relationships. Even so, it’d helped Asahi loosen up and take his mind off of school obligations for a while. He didn’t dislike spending time with them at all. They were his friends, after all, so he enjoyed being in their company. And although he wasn’t the biggest fan of their plan to make him the “hottest guy” at their school, he knew they were only doing it for him. Unfortunately, their ideas on how to get a girl were far from decent.

I just can’t get on board with the idea of a “plan” to get girls in the first place—it sounds scummy, he reflected as he headed home. As he tried to get their ridiculous tactics out of his mind, he suddenly remembered that his fridge was bordering on empty. Before arriving at his house, he made a quick detour at a nearby supermarket that was having a special sale for the day. When he entered, he noticed the sizable crowd of customers. Most of them were clearly housewives, and he even spotted a few familiar faces among them. Then he spotted another type of familiar face.

What is she doing here of all places?

It was none other than The Ice Queen herself. The silky, waist-length black hair, which contrasted so starkly with her pale white skin, the graceful silhouette—she was unmistakable. She was walking around the store with a shopping basket in hand. Normally, seeing her in the neighborhood wouldn’t have stopped him in his tracks, but the fact that she was situated in front of the section for alcoholic beverages roused his curiosity.

He approached her and asked, “What are you looking for?”

He had originally planned to pass by her without saying anything, but seeing the concerned expression on her face as she surveyed the shelves compelled him to ask. Maybe he could assist her, somehow, even though he expected her to completely ignore him.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

“Don’t answer my question with another one.”

Although her “answer” had been unexpected, he was glad to have struck up a conversation with her again. It was more favorable than being ignored.

“Just like you, I’m here to buy some stuff. Isn’t that obvious?” he finally replied.

“I suppose you’re right,” she said with a small nod.

They lived in the same apartment complex, so unexpectedly running into each other at the nearest supermarket wouldn’t be that outlandish of a scenario.

Actually, this isn’t the first time I’ve seen her here.

He remembered how, ever since he’d figured out she didn’t cook, he’d seen her purchasing things like ready-made meals from time to time. Things were different that day, though—there was an assortment of colorful vegetables in her basket, along with some pork.

“Looks like you’re finally in the mood to cook something yourself, huh?”

“Would you kindly quit implying that I’ve never cooked in my life?”

“Sorry, my bad. Yeah, you did mention last time that you’ve made a few things.”

His blunder earned him her trademark glare. He could tell that cooking wasn’t her strong suit, nor did she have enough passion for it to care to improve. Although Asahi quickly apologized, he could still feel the coldness emanating from her. It made him uneasy—this was one of the first times he was experiencing The Ice Queen’s treatment directly. Her words were as curt and serious as ever, but she wasn’t the same as she usually was at school.

“Anyways, what are you looking for? Aren’t you a little too young to be drinking?” Asahi prodded, taking the fact that he hadn’t been outright ignored as a positive sign.

He knew that Fuyuka had to be well acquainted with the law, considering that her conduct at school was irreproachable. He just couldn’t imagine her to be the type who led a secret double life as an honor student and a devout partier. On the other hand, he couldn’t think of any other reason she would be in that particular section of the store.

After a moment of hesitation, she replied, “I’m just looking for some sake to cook with... But, by the looks of it, they might be out of stock.”

It dawned on him that she wasn’t lying. It was right then that Asahi realized that she had truly never cooked a thing in her life. If she had, she would know that cooking sake would be located in the condiments aisle of any supermarket, not the one for alcohol.

She must be in real trouble if she’s willing to open up to me about it, he observed.

“If that’s what you’re looking for, then you gotta go to the condiments aisle.”

He thought about adding in a light joke, but then realized a straight answer would probably be for the best. He wasn’t sure how Fuyuka would react to his banter, and his previous attempt had brought about less-than-desirable results.

“Thanks for the help,” she whispered as she briskly made her way over to the shelves he’d pointed out.

Damn, she looked like a tomato just then. Is it because she realized her mistake?

He assumed that was that, so he continued on his way and pondered about what he should get for himself. Apart from the usual suspects—like missing spices or products he used daily, such as milk—he had to consider his dinner for the night. He also nabbed some items and side dishes that were on sale. After about 20 minutes of browsing and grabbing what he needed, he lined up for the cashier. Buying groceries at that market was already second nature to him. As he headed over to the line, he caught a glimpse of Fuyuka already waiting in the one he’d selected.

“I’m only in this line because it’s got the fewest people, by the way,” he spoke up.

“I haven’t even said anything yet.”

Was she going to actually ask me? I don't even really know why I said that, to be honest.

Judging by her furrowed eyes, she was not amused that he’d read her mind. Her basket was fuller than earlier, and he spotted a bottle of cooking sake amidst her other supplies.

“Oh, so you’re planning on making some curry, huh?”

“And how would you know that, exactly?”

“I could tell pretty much just by looking at your basket.”

“I see...”

She seemed surprised, but it was an easy guess based on the curry powder she was carrying. Combined with the fact that she also had potatoes, onions, and carrots—the usual ingredients for Japanese curry—and it didn’t take a genius to figure it out.

She was trying her hand at cooking, so something more complex than curry would’ve been out of the question. That was Asahi’s impression, at least, although he preferred to keep that comment to himself.

“Next one, please,” the cashier called out, urging Fuyuka forward and interrupting their conversation.

“Go on, Himuro. It’s your turn.”

“You don’t need to state the obvious,” she snapped at him in an angry tone and pierced him with her glare. She wasn’t in the mood that day, that was for sure.

Gotta say, it feels pretty weird to have a normal conversation with her of all people.

It would make for a good tale to tell others at school, but nobody would believe him. Plus, he wasn’t the type to gossip or run his mouth. He’d just happened to run into her at the supermarket and had a short exchange with her, nothing more and nothing less.

As he silently waited for his turn, he watched Fuyuka pay for her items.

*

“You want me to carry those for you?”

He came across Fuyuka again on his way back home from the supermarket. She hadn’t waited for him so they could go back together or anything of the sort. He just happened to see her from behind as he was walking home. She was carrying two large bags, one in each hand. Based on her stagger, and the fact that the bags continuously threatened to graze the ground, she clearly was experiencing some trouble carrying them.

“I’ll have to decline,” she answered after a short period of silence. Classic. Her words were polite, but he could feel the chill from her curt refusal.

She turned down everyone’s offers, no matter what they were. She kept everyone at a distance and never allowed anyone to get close to her. At some point, Asahi had believed that maybe that had been the key to her current academic success.

“You sure? To me, it looks like you’re struggling to even lift them properly.”

“I’m fine. Don’t mind me. Go your own way.”

It’s funny how she insists that it’s “fine,” even though it’s pretty obvious that it’s not.

Judging by the contents in her basket back at the supermarket, and based on the size of her bags, Asahi quickly surmised that she had to be carrying a little over five kilograms. That included the bottle of cooking sake she’d bought. He didn’t offer to help her just because she was a girl or anything, but because it was clear as day that she was struggling to carry the bags.

“The block’s pretty close, so at least let me carry one of those until we’re there. No need to repay me after, if that’s what you’re trying to avoid,” he said as he began to approach her.

He was solely focused on helping her, so he hadn’t realized that she’d treated him as if he were a complete stranger when she refused—or that a stranger pushing to help out in that way would be extremely off-putting to anyone.

“I believe I’ve already told you to stay away from me,” she replied in a frigid tone, her face expressionless. It was a merciless answer to his kindness, and it slowly dawned on him that she’d already erected a sturdy wall between them. He should’ve realized it earlier. “I’ve already repaid my debt. Please make sure to stay away from me from now on.”

“Okay,” he responded after some hesitation.

Asahi realized that she didn’t want his help and considered him to be more of a pest than anything else. Even though he was only trying to be considerate, she took that as another favor that would need to be returned. In the end, it was up to her if she wanted him to close the distance or not. She had rejected his help, and that was that.

“Just be careful on your way home,” he finally said as he passed beside her and headed home. He didn’t look back after that.

The harsh, icy wind picked up, heralding the arrival of night along with the setting sun.