I was really curious about what he wanted to say but i couldn't stand anymore.

I started to be worried too.

I thought that something might have happened to Ema.

I sneaked close to him and i interrupted his call by tapping his shoulder.

"So? Fumihiro what?" I asked with a cold tone.

Benjiro was **negatively** surprised to see me as he exclaimed "W-Woah! Fumihiro!" And dropping his phone on the ground.

He then picked it up and started talking at the phone call again: "S-Sorry, Suzuki-San! we'll talk later" before hanging up the call and putting his phone in his pocket.

Benjiro then looked at me with such a scared expression, remaining silent for a few minutes.

He never did that, he is way bigger and stronger than me so he always was the one who "Bully" the others.

"Uhm... Benjiro? What happened?" I asked while scratching the back of my head.

"I heard my girlfriend's name. Did something happen to her?" I gently asked with a hint of anxiety in my voice.

"Y-Yes. I was talking with Suzuki-San.

She told me that she saw your girlfriend alone with an upset look on her face and she was worried." He said.

Benjiro wasn't looking me in the eyes, so he was probably lying, but i decided to hold his game.

"Ema? Alone ? And... Suzuki-san? Since when are you talking with her?" I asked while faking a scared expression.

"W-Well... it's been a while... Hehe..." He started sweating.

"I smell lies." I thought.

"So, why did she call *you* and not *me*?" I asked.

"Well... she told me that she doesn't have your contact... She was only worried because she thought that you and Ema actually broke up..." Benjiro tried to say.

He was obviously lying. Suzuki has my contact.

"When did she see Ema?" I asked.

"Uhm... just now. She was alone at the Sakura Brew Haven grabbing some groceries... That's what she told me." Benjiro said while looking away again.

"Uh? What was she doing there? My house is actually on the opposite way... Maybe she wanted to buy their special vanilla aroma to make some recipes...?" I asked him

"I think so. A-Anyway, Fumihiro, shall we go to my home? I have bought lots of new *erotic* videogames... We will have lot of fun!" This time he looked me in the eyes.

At least he wasn't lying about the erotic games.

"I'm sorry, Benjiro, tonight i have a dinner at home with Ema and my family.

She's waiting me with my mother. I need to go there." I said to him.

Benjiro's expression became more nervous.

"B-But are you sure...?" He said, by wrapping his arm around my shoulder. "Come on, Fumihiro! Let's go to my house!".

"No." I said, while removing his arm from me. "I'll call her now.". I said while picking up my phone from my pocket.

"Okay then... I'll go home... S-See you tomorrow...! IDONTKNOWANYTHINGSOPLEASEDONTASKME!!" Benjiro said, after starting to walk nervously.

I nodded and waved at him. "See you tomorrow." I smiled at him. I still didn't get the reason of his behaviour.

"What did he say? I couldn't understand his last phrase."

I then took a look at my phone to see if Ema sent some messages but i found nothing.

"How strange, she always tells me where she goes, even for the most stupid thing..." I said to myself.

I decided to call her on the phone.

**Ring** **Ring** The phone started to ring.

No answer from Ema.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

"I'll go to check at The Sakura Brew Haven… luckily the owner is a friend of mine." I said to myself.

I started walking towards my destination while feeling a little bit worried about Ema.

"She was completely normal today at school. What has gotten into her?" I asked to myself, while my steps were becoming faster without noticing.

I also felt a little pressure on my heart, like someone was squeezing it softly but a little bit painfully.

It was a strange feeling. My chest felt… cold and hot at the same time.

I tried to calm myself down, it was such a stupid thing to think that something bad might have happened.

I kept thinking at Ema while walking.

"Recently , she's been more clingy than usual.

She doesn't want to separate from me.

Maybe she got jealous that I talked with Mayumi…?" I though.

As i walked to the Sakura Brew, I saw some of my schoolmates hanging around.

They usually wave at me when they see me.

But this time they looked away from me.

"Do i have something stuck in my hair…?" I said while stopping for a moment and taking the phone to use it as a mirror.

"No, nothing. Let's keep going." I said while putting the phone back and starting to walk again.

I didn't care much about their behaviour since my thoughts were only focused on Ema.

After 10 minutes of walk, i finally arrived at the Sakura Brew Haven.

Nobody was there.

"So Benjiro really lied to me…" I said.

My worries for Ema actually intensified.

I pulled my phone out again and i called Ema again.

**Ring**

The phone rang for a couple minutes but still no answer from her.

"Where the heck is she?!?" I asked in panic to myself.

I then called my mother.

After 10 seconds, she answered the call.

"Eh? Fumihiro? What happened?" She asked me.

"N-Nothing, mama. Did Ema arrive at home…?" I asked with a gentle tone, to make sure that mother didn't know that i was nervous.

"Ema? No she's not here yet. I called her one minute ago and she told me that she went to the Sakura Brew Haven to take some vanilla aroma. Why are you asking? Aren't you with her?" My mother said.

"Oh, nothing at all." I replied. "Thank you, i'll come home right now. Mayumi-San actually wanted to talk to me so i lost some time and i'm little bit late. That's all. See you at home . Bye!" I added.

I then hung up the phone without hearing my mother's response.

*I need to calm down…* I thought.

I took a deep breath and exhaled.

"Maybe she's already done here and she's on her way home… but why is she answering at my mother's calls instead of mine?!?" I asked to myself.

I was really nervous.

Suddenly , I felt someone tapping my shoulder.

I turned my head and saw Ayaka-San, the owner of the cafeteria.

"What's a lovely boy like you doing all alone without his other half?" She said while patting my head and smiling at me.

Somehow, that headpat calmed me down a little.

"Oh… Ayaka-San, Good afternoon!" I said, while faking a smile at her."If you're looking for your other half, she's already on her way. She told me she's going to your home. She came here to pick some vanilla aroma." Ayaka-San smiled at me.

I let out a sigh of relief.

"I thank you a lot, Ayaka-San. I was really worried for her. She didn't even answer to my calls!" i said while relaxing.

Even my heartbeat slowed a little and returned to normal.

"Oh you cutey lovebird! I wish i had a caring husband like you!" she giggled at me while patting my head again. "Don't worry, I heard her phone ringing. She was busy talking with me. Nothing too big."

She added while her hand stopped patting my hair.

"Thank you, Ayaka-San" I said.

**i still don't get why she and Mayumi keep treating me like a child even tough i'm grown up**

For a second, i could see Ayaka's smile disappear.

It was only for an instant, but i felt like she wasn't looking at me anymore.

"But be sure to treat her better next time! She loves you a lot, you know ! Every girl at her age must be treated like a princess!" Ayaka joked about that.

She probably said that because she's never been treated like this.

I laughed a little at her joke.

"Well, if i treat her like a princess, she'll get annoyed of me one day and maybe she'll find another one. So i also want to be treated the way i treat her. Like a human!" I said.

I didn't know why i said exactly this phrase.

I know Ema loves me deeply.

She would never leave me for any reason at all.

remained silent for a minute while looking right into my eyes.

I could see the void into her blue eyelids.

"Ayaka…San? Are you okay?" I asked.

She suddenly "woke up" and she answered at me with a nervous smile while scratching the back her head and adjusting her deep green ponytail.

"You're totally right! I wish i had a boyfriend like you during high school!! Hehe!!"

"What a fake phrase to say! You always know how to embarrass me. You would've dumped me 1000 times" I said while laughing. "So , Ayaka-san, I'll go home now. Thank you for helping me."

I waved at her and then i walked off towards my home.

Ayaka-san then said:

"Wait a second, Fumihiro-kun. Do you want some candies?"

"Yes! Why not!" I replied happily.

She then gave me a small box filled with their special vanilla-chocolate candies.

"Thank you, Ayaka-San! These are my favourites!!!" I smiled at her and waved again.

"Come here whenever you want ! Whenever you feel lonely, I'll be here!" Ayaka replied, waving st me.

I walked towards my home and suddenly i heard my phone ringing.

It was my mother.

"Fumihiro, where are you? Ema has just arrived here! Be fast!" She said, before hanging up the call.

My worries for Ema vanished completely.

I smiled and started running to my house.

My steps were light so light that i felt like i could fly.

It didn't even take me 5 minutes to arrive home. (Probably).

I arrived outside the gate of my house and i noticed that it was actually open.

"Who forgot to close this...? Ema?" I asked to my self.

I walked towards the door but i heard some voices coming from the outside.

For some strange reasons, that time i decided to eavesdrop by putting my ear on the surface of the entrance door of my house.

"Ema... Is that true? Do you know how much this will hurt him?" It was my mother. She was talking to Ema.

My heart skipped a beat. "What could hurt me so much...?" I asked to myself.

"I... know... but... i really love him. I don't want to lose him for a stupid thing... I'm *sob* so scared...!"

This was Ema's voice.

I could hear her voice trembling. She was probably crying.

"What... What is happening?" I thought, while my heartbeat was accelerating...