Seishun Buta Yarou Series - Volume 11 - Chapter 5

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The night after the reunion, an exhausted Sakuta fell asleep—and dreamed.

A highly realistic dream that felt like it was actually happening.

In the dream, he’d gone to work at his cram school and found Sara Himeji waiting for him. “I’m starting with you today, Teach!” she’d said, smiling.

Kento was delighted she’d joined his class, but Juri said not a word, not reacting at all.

Very different from your usual dreamlike chaos. Everyone in it was someone he knew. He’d taught a normal lesson and seen all three kids off at the end of it.

That was all.

But when Nasuno’s paws on his face woke him up, he didn’t feel like he’d escaped the dream. It had been too real.

He’d felt his body with him the whole time. He’d had thoughts running through his head. Sara’s and Kento’s voices still echoed in his ears.

“Was this a hashtag dreaming thing?”

He had to wonder.

“The school calendar said December first.”

Sara had talked with him about what days his classes were held.

Today was Monday, November 28.

There were thirty days in November, so he’d be teaching her three days from now. Thursday.

“…Well, I’ll find out when I get there.”

He certainly wouldn’t know beforehand.

If it was just a dream, fine.

And if it did turn out to be true, he’d have an extra student. No problem there. It would bring up his wages, so frankly, there was no downside.

He went to college like always, yawning his way through morning classes. He was still tired from the night before.

Takumi was in class with him, grumbling, “That date wear you out? Jealous.” He was apparently envious of something that had only happened in his head.

“You say that, Fukuyama, but you had your hands all over Hanako’s nipples.”

“The Holstein from the Chiba ranch, right. Them was some beautiful teats.”

He’d gone with the group from the mixer, Ryouhei, Chiharu, and Asuka. For all his griping, Takumi seemed to be making the most of college life.

At lunch, Sakuta met up with Mai in the cafeteria, and for once, no one interrupted. They were able to share a quiet meal together.

Most of the time Nodoka—or lately Miori—would join them, so this was actually fairly rare.

Having a third wheel around did mean they attracted a lot less attention, though.

The students here were used to seeing Mai around, but when she was with Sakuta, that was a whole other deal.

Everyone was wondering, “Why him?”

It had been much worse when they first started here.

Sakuta had ordered miso katsu, and Mai shiodare chicken. They finished eating and took a sip of tea.

“Um, Mai,” he began.

“Mm?” Mai said, looking up without swallowing.

“I got something to apologize for.”

She swallowed. “Cheating again?” she asked.

“When have I ever done that?”

“Every time you get to know another girl.”

A swift thrust to box him in. He’d better get to the point.

“I bragged about dating Mai Sakurajima yesterday.”

It had been a good way to end that interaction, but using her as a status symbol was not something he liked to do. He just didn’t have a better way to prove his life wasn’t ruined. She was the best proof around.

“Well, that’s fine.” Mai smiled. “I mean, it’s true.”

“Well, yeah.”

“Or are you trying to say I’m not worth boasting about?”

Now she was just toying with him. She even leaned forward to peer up at him.

Naturally, he could boast about her for days.

Mai was highly boastable.

But he didn’t want to make that his boast.

But before he could explain this…

“Mind if I join you?”

A female voice. He recognized it instantly.

He looked up and found Ikumi standing next to them.

“Please don’t.”

“Please do.”

Sakuta and Mai spoke at once, saying literally opposite things.

“……”

Ikumi was left awkwardly standing there, unable to sit or leave.

“You’re Akagi?” Mai asked. Then she urged her to sit again. “I’ll go grab some tea,” she added, and she grabbed Sakuta’s cup and headed off to the drink bar.

If he drove Ikumi away before she got back, he would probably suffer for it.

“Fine, sit,” he said.

And only then did she put her tray down across from him.

The same shiodare chicken Mai had ordered.

“Thanks,” she said, to no one in particular. She started with her miso soup.

He figured she had a reason to come here, but it didn’t seem like she was volunteering it.

So he decided to ask the question on his mind instead.

“Akagi, you sure you’re better off here?”

“Why?”

“Didn’t you have a boyfriend back there?”

“……Why?”

The same word, very different tone.

“Akagi was slightly prone to moans.”

That was likely the source of the poltergeist he’d witnessed. The sort of sensations men and women got up to together. Feedback from the other world, flowing into this one.

“……”

Ikumi said nothing, focusing on her chicken. She didn’t refute it, though, so he was probably right.

“That could be a big shock for the other Akagi. Surprise boyfriend!”

She’d not seemed experienced with those things.

“She’ll be fine.”

“Why?”

It was his turn to ask.

“We broke up.”

“Aha.”

That would solve things.

“Apparently, I’m too much.”

“I get that.”

“……”

That earned him a pointed glare. Perhaps he could have lied.

“And who was it?”

“Same person I was seeing here.”

“Oh, him.”

Seiichi Takasaka, was it? He’d only met him once and wasn’t that sure of the name.

“Oh, right, you met him.”

The other Ikumi must have relayed that news.

“He wants to try again.”

“……”

Ikumi didn’t respond. She just poker-faced her way through another piece of chicken. She had some shredded cabbage, too.

Reactions like this were not something the other Ikumi would have managed.

“I know. He called me,” Ikumi said softly.

Clearly, that was her last word on the subject.

That suited him fine.

Sakuta wasn’t inclined to pry further.

“So what brings you here, Akagi?”

She was at their table for a reason.

Ikumi glanced up.

Mai came back with tea.

“Should I leave?” she asked, catching the glance.

“No, this involves you.”

“Does it…?”

Mai raised a brow and took a seat. She gave Sakuta a searching look, but he was equally clueless.

“Look here.”

Ikumi put her soup down and showed them her palm.

 Message from one Azusagawa to the other.

Nice handwriting. Definitely Ikumi’s.

“Akagi, is this…?”

For a moment, he thought the other Ikumi was back.

“Don’t holler. I’m the one born in this world.”

But the note on her palm was obviously from the other world.

“But it’s not fully cured?”

“Like you said, just gotta get over it one day at a time.”

“……”

He had nothing more to say about that. If Ikumi was good with it, then things likely wouldn’t take a turn for the worse. He just had to hope.

“So what’s the message?” Mai asked.

Ikumi pulled her hand away.

Then she put her chopsticks down and showed them her other palm.

The rest of the message.

The handwriting was sloppy, very male.

 Find Touko Kirishima.

 Mai’s in danger.

This time it was in Sakuta’s own handwriting.