Seishun Buta Yarou Series - Volume 12 - Chapter 2.4

4

He spent the weekend working and, by Monday, was back on the usual college grind.

Each day, he looked for Touko on the gingko lane as he headed to his classes.

And between classes, on his way to lunch, and the way out—always scanning the student throngs for a miniskirt Santa. But ever since he bought her a Mont Blanc, he hadn’t seen Touko on campus once.

He also called her daily. Kaede gave him some withering looks, but he left messages on her voice mail anyway. Touko didn’t pick up or call back once.

A week went by without any progress, and before he knew it—it was Friday.

December 9.

He was packing up his empty lunch when Takumi growled, “There’s more every day,” his eyes on the view outside the window.

“More what?” he asked, joining Takumi at the window.

“Couples.”

They were on the third floor and had a good view of the path below. It was not hard to spot a number of couples walking very close together. Heads thrown back, laughing at each other’s jokes.

“This is their season,” Takumi grumbled. He seemed extra bitter. “One big day after another.”

“Are there that many?”

“Christmas Eve? Christmas?”

“Those are usually treated as a single occasion.”

“New Year’s Eve? New Year’s Day?”

“Are those for couples?”

“What, you aren’t going to spend them with Sakurajima?”

“Of course I am.”

If Mai’s schedule allowed it, at least.

“See? They’re for couples. All that happiness has rotted your brain, Azusagawa.”

Vicious.

“And after New Year’s, you’ve got Setsubun? Valentine’s? White Day?”

One of those definitely didn’t fit, but Sakuta opted to not point that out. They were all a long ways off.

“Christmas comes before anything next year.”

And that was the one holiday on Sakuta’s mind. Would he be able to keep his word and spend it with Mai? Or would he wind up with Sara, like the dream said?

“Exactly! Gotta get a girlfriend first. That’s why I’m setting up a mixer. Once it’s set, you gotta be there, Azusagawa.”

“Ew, no. I’ve gained nothing from that experience.”

His first-ever mixer had been rendered extremely uncomfortable by the arrival of the last person he expected. He would likely never fully recover from it. The painful memories had been seared into his mind.

“See, another couple!”

Takumi pointed through the window. A man and woman, goofing around. The girl was pushing the guy forward. Why was that so much fun? Who knew, but they were sure laughing.

“Love blinds them all,” Takumi whispered distantly.

Eyes on the window, Sakuta failed to respond. His mind was elsewhere—he’d caught a glimpse of red down the lane.

A miniskirt Santa.

That was definitely Touko Kirishima’s back.

Leaving his bags where they were, Sakuta rushed to the door.

“What? Huh? Class is starting!”

“Tell ’em I’m in the can!”

He was gone.

“Ew, I don’t wanna.”

By the time Takumi’s voice reached his ears, Sakuta was already on the stairs.

As he left the building, the bell rang, signaling the start of class.

Moving against the last few stragglers, he headed toward the tree-lined lane.

And he stopped near the main gates.

The lady he was after was not ten yards out.

Touko was standing her phone upright on a bench, walking a few paces down the lane, then coming back to check the phone.

What was she up to?

The results must not have been satisfactory, because she put the phone back down and repeated the walk. The way she walked seemed theatrical, like a model on a runway.

Sakuta approached, calling out.

“Um…”

“Don’t come this way. You’ll ruin the shot.”

“Huh?”

Touko turned to face him, looking annoyed. He thought she was coming to him, but she brushed right past and reached for the phone.

“What are you doing?”

“Filming a video from the Christmas song.”

“Didn’t you put that out? The day of the Mont Blanc.”

“That was a different song.”

She didn’t even glance his way, just put her phone back on the bench. But it fell over the second she let go.

“Need a hand?”

“……”

“I mean, it seems like this isn’t working.”

“Then follow and film me.”

Touko held out the phone. The recorder was already open.

“Press the red dot to record.”

With that, Touko started walking off down the lane. Sakuta trailed behind, keeping her back in frame.

Fortunately, with class in session, there were few students here, and no one was giving him funny looks. The few people they did pass didn’t seem to think he was doing anything weird. Maybe walking around filming things was normal now.

“Is talking allowed?” he asked when he was sure no one was in earshot.

“I’m only using the video, so we can—just try not to be a headache.”

“Can I ask about Sara Himeji’s Adolescence Syndrome?”

He figured the direct approach would be less of a pain.

“Who’s that?” Touko asked. Not helpful.

“Student of mine.”

“Why would I know?”

“She said she’d got Adolescence Syndrome.”

“And?”

“If that’s a present from you, I figured you might know more.”

“I don’t.”

With that, she stopped and turned to face him. Heels clicking, she stalked over and snatched the phone away.

“If she’s got it, I’m pretty sure I gave it to her, though.”

She was already checking the video he’d taken.

A long shot of a miniskirt Santa walking away. He could hear their dialogue playing back, too. And Touko insisting she’d never heard of Sara.

“You knew Hirokawa and Akagi.”

“Well, they’re students here.”

She seemed irked he’d ask something that obvious. Didn’t seem like she was lying or deliberately messing with him. She was just stating the facts. And mildly exasperated, apparently.

“So much for cheating.”

This left him with no way of finding out what Sara’s Adolescence Syndrome was. He’d just have to wait for something weird to happen. He wouldn’t know until it affected him. He’d rather stay well clear of that, but…he didn’t see any other way to progress.

“Thanks, this should work nicely,” Touko said, nodding. She’d clearly gained more from this than he had.

“Feel free to call me anytime you need a cameraman.”

“Yeah? Then come here on the twenty-fourth. I’m doing a live stream. See you here at four.”

“Uh, that day won’t really work…”

“Be there.”

Not listening to his protests, Touko headed off to the main gate. He watched her cross the campus and vanish from view.

“Christmas Eve was bad enough already.”

He already had the problem posed by that weird dream, and now she was dropping another deal on top of that. How was he supposed to tell Mai about all this?

“……Guess I’d better get to class.”

Taking too long in the bathroom would cause his teacher unnecessary concern.