Head Over Heels From The Scarf I Lent Her Chapter 14

Tooru’s cla.s.s was buzzing in the morning. As soon as he enters the cla.s.sroom, almost everybody averts their eyes.

Amane probably spread another rumor. Either that, or she went around threatening everybody.
Tooru understands how it is, so he walks to his seat with his head held high. He had done nothing to be feeling guilty.

His friends would usually greet him in the morning, but today, they are just looking at him from a distance.
It stings a little, but he’s not about to go up and beg them. Are they really friends if Tooru has to give into Amane to keep them?

And so, he won’t.

“Yo, Tooru. Mornin’.”
“G’morning, Jun. Hey… didn’t Amane say anything to you?”

Tooru quietly asks Jun who is sitting in front of him and he replies with a straight face.

“She did, but I ignored her.”
“Dumba.s.s. You’re gonna be on her s.h.i.t list too.”
“Hmm…”

Jun took a moment to think about something before responding with a cheer.

“I’m your friend, Tooru. Not hers. She can be as slimy as she wants. Me? I’ll just keep having fun. That’s more like me, don’tcha think?”

Jun’s words moved him.
He’s glad to have him on his side even though he never completely understands what goes on in Jun’s head. It may not seem like it, but it really meant a whole lot. Tooru was ready to be alone from now on.

“I totally think so! Your favorite gossiper Akane is here! I’m here on the case!”
“Whoa, where did you come from?!”

Akane seemingly appeared behind Tooru with her notepad in hand and a grin on her face.

“It’s none of your business, Nishino.”
“How rude. Where there’s a scandal, there’s me—even if I have to be up close with an enemy of the girls!”

She points direct at Tooru who looks at her with a blank face.
And what exactly is an enemy of the girls anyway?

“What do you mean by that?”

The only time he’s been a bad guy towards a girl was last night in his room when he made Satsuki cry.
Akane scans her notepad with a sly grin on her face.

“According to my intelligence, that person had not only cruelly rejected Amane’s confession but had also groped her b.r.e.a.s.t.s too. What does the accused have to say to that?!”
“What do I have to say to that? Well, half of it is true…”
“Half of it is true, you say?!”
“Ahaha, dude, what a player!”
“Who’s a player?!”

Tooru snapped back at Jun while prying Akane off of himself. Jun feigns innocence and looks off to one side. Backstabbing b.a.s.t.a.r.d! Tooru was so moved by his words earlier too!
Well, this might not be so bad after all.
Jun is still his friend and Akane has a new case on her hands. This new thrilling life might be better than the boring one he had before.

“Accused! Court is adjourned, but we’re not finished yet!”
“Hey, don’t go calling me the accused!”

The teacher walked into the room while Tooru was getting interrogated and so Akane quietly returned to her seat.

It’s not exactly sunny out, but at least it’s not raining during lunch today.
The two of them met up at the usual place and Satsuki opened today’s lunchboxes.
Inside is soy-simmered nori-wrapped spinach, rolled omelette, and sautéed bite-sized chicken, all on a bed of white rice. A healthy balance as always.

The rolled omelette is delicate but flavorful from the broth. It’s simple but delicious.
Having missed out yesterday, Tooru couldn’t help but wolf today’s lunch down.

“Seeing how much you enjoy my cooking just makes me want to cook for you even more.”
“That right?”
“Yes. It makes me very glad to be able to cook for you.”

The way she innocently smiles at Tooru makes her such a tease. It’s all part of her charm.
Tooru swallows his food while his heart pounds.
To think of it, he’s having lunch with this cutie and she’s a cutie not just because of her looks either.

I really like you.

Her voice plays back in Tooru’s mind again, making him cognizant of the fact that she’s a girl of his age.
It’s almost like that was a confession. Thinking about it makes him choke up from embarra.s.sment. What a bombsh.e.l.l she dropped on him.

“Is everything okay?”

The culprit looks up at him with a straight face. It’s your fault I’m getting all embarra.s.sed, is what he wanted to say, but there was no way he could.
Tooru prefers her as a friend. He just couldn’t see her in a romantic light.

He knows that he likes Satsuki as his junior and as his friend. But anything else, he would need a push from her.

“Oh, uhh, I was just thinking about something.”
“Oh, I see. Hehe, you’re cute when you’re s.p.a.cing out too.”
“C-Cute?”
“Yep.”

There was no malice behind her words and the accompanying smile. It’s yet another part of her charm.

“Hey, Satsuki.”
“Yes?”
“You have any actors or actresses you like? Like any of those starlets you see on TV?”
“I don’t really watch television, so…”
“O-Oh, right, right.”

She did mention that if she’s not helping out around the house, she’s busy studying. It makes sense how she doesn’t know much about any of that stuff.

Tooru brainstorms for a fun topic he could talk about with Satsuki.
Cooking? No, Tooru can’t cook.
Sports? No, she doesn’t watch TV.
Fashion? No, he doesn’t know enough to keep a conversation going with a girl.

As he’s panicking from all the no’s, Satsuki comes in to save the day.

“I was thinking about going out shopping some time.”
“Hmm? Like for groceries and stuff?”
“More of a personal shopping trip for clothes. See, I don’t know much about where to shop… I was hoping maybe you could take me around.”

There’s an ever so slight blush to Satsuki’s cheeks as she looks upwards at Tooru. That makes him tense and choke up even more.
The only problem with going out shopping is a matter of when. If it really comes to it, he could always ask a coworker to take his shift.
But more important, is Tooru’s taste on ladies’ fashion good enough? If not, there’s someone who he can depend on.

“Ah.”
“What is it?”

Satsuki looks a little confused as Tooru sticks up his index finger.

“Could I bring my buddy Jun along?
“One of your friends? Why, of course.  The more, the merrier, right?”

Tooru is glad that she’s not dissatisfied with not going alone but rather happy. It’s a good chance for him to introduce Jun to her as well.

“When are you thinking of? I don’t have the time any time soon, but maybe in two, three weeks?”
“Whenever you are good is good for me. I’m hoping to get something to wear for summer.”

Isn’t it a little early for that? It’s still spring. But Tooru supposes that it is a little different for girls. What kind of high school girl wouldn’t want to be fashionable?

“Gotcha. It’s a plan then. I’ll talk to my manager about it.”
“I’m looking forward to it!” Satsuki says with a dazzling smile.

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