“Yeah Akane was with me yesterday, we were just catching up. A lot of things have happened since I left.” Ann was looking down toward the street but she didn’t seem to be paying attention to the path.

I hadn’t thought I’d be walking home with a popular person but I had to ask Ann about Akane, there’s a lot I don’t know and not knowing would hinder my skills to make the best decision. I have to make sure after we part ways both of our lives go back to normal without any issues.

“Can I ask you about what you two talked about?”

“Huh?... You shouldn’t ask girls what they talk about in private.” Ann said mockingly, “It’s secret talk, only to be kept between two friends.” The mocking smile turned into a nervous one. “And she didn’t tell me much anyway.” Ann mumbled.

It seems Akane isn’t ready to share everything with Ann right now, probably because it isn’t important to Akane. Akane isn’t someone who would involve people in something trivial, she was able to listen to me after I pushed her into a corner and I’m not someone close to Akane, she wouldn’t feel bad for putting some pressure on me. Ann, however, is someone close to Akane, someone Akane can’t see being worried about her for no reason.

On the other hand Ann is probably thinking Akane is shutting her out, making her even more worried about Akane. Miscommunication leads to misunderstanding. They both need to talk to each other clearly, but there is nothing I can do. For me the important part is finding out about Akane’s relationship with Watari and a way to figure out where Watari is going for workplace observation.

“Arima, can you tell me what’s bothering Akane?” Ann looks at me with her blue eyes glistening, “I know I’m supposed to be her best friend but that girl won’t tell me anything, she’s so unfair.” Ann pouts. “It seems you know her better than I do.” She looks down with disappointment. Ann is really the opposite of Akane, she’s expressive and easy to read, her moods and expressions change far more frequently.

“I don’t think that’s true. I don’t know Akane better than you.” I’ve only known for a week and there is no way to predict how she’ll react. “I can see you are worried about Akane, while I can’t tell you everything without her permission, I can give a general idea of the situation.” If I want to use Ann I need to build up some trust between us. Best way to do that would be to let her know why Akane is acting this way. She might bring it up with Akane which could lead to them clearing up their misunderstanding, but that’s not my concern. I have to use Ann to know what career Watari is gonna use.

Turning toward Ann I could see her eyes shining, this is the first time she’s getting some answers about Akane. Did her eyes get watery? Don’t cry over this, just how much does Akane mean to you?

“Thank you, Arima.” Ann whined, still trying to control her tears.

I instinctively turn my head away, no matter how detached you are from people it’s always hard to watch a cute girl cry. Even though I can take control of any situation, this one situation I have no idea how to handle. “I–It’s okay…” I start waving my hands around like a newborn baby without looking at Ann. “D–Do you need something to drink?” I’m an idiot, I couldn’t think about anything else to say.

“That would be nice.” Ann sobs, wiping her tears. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to cry. It’s embarrassing.”

“I–It’s okay… D–Don’t worry about it. Let’s go sit in the park, I’ll get you something to drink.”

Ann nods.

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***

I found a vending machine to get something to drink for both me and Ann. In these moments there’s nothing better than my favorite sixty-six percent darker coffee, it always makes my brain work better. I get the same for Ann, I don’t know if she has had this coffee before but there’s no way she won’t like it, it’s the best.

I walked back to where Ann was sitting and handed her the drink. “Do you like coffee?” I probably should have asked it before but I didn’t have to bring up that topic before.

“Yes.” She took the drink from me and looked at the label for a moment. I guess she hasn’t tried this brand before, I’m sure she’ll love it if she likes coffee. She opens the top of the aluminum can and takes a sip. Ann pushes the drink away from her mouth, almost throwing it away. “So bitter. How can anyone drink that?” Right after saying that she looks at me with an expression that makes it clear that the last thing she said was instinctive and she hadn’t meant it. “I’m sor–”

“It’s okay.” It’s totally not okay, how can you not like bitter coffee?

“How can you drink something so bitter?”

“The quality of coffee is determined by how bitter it is, adding sugar or milk ruins it completely.” She’s one of those people who make coffee sweet and then tell others they like coffee, it’s another tactic some people use to get into communities to socialize.

Ann burst into laughter, “Ha.. ha… you are funny, I can see why Akane is attracted to you.”

“Huh…?”

She continues to laugh, looking at my face which has gotten red, “Are you embarrassed? Ha.. Ha..”

“Did Akane tell you that?”

“What do you mean Akane told me?” The laugh dies out.

“Did Akane tell you that… that she is attracted to me?” The only way Ann would say that is if Akane told her that, but why would Akane say something like that? She doesn’t even like me being around her, there is no way she likes me in any way.

“Well…” She turns her gaze away, “She didn’t say a name… but she told me she’s going out with someone, and I haven’t seen her talk to anyone else but you.” She nods and then turns towards me. “I know you told me you have only started talking to her in the last week but I am not that stupid to not realize that you two are going out.”

I sigh. Why is Akane so fixated on ruining my life with all these misunderstandings? Either tell Ann everything or don’t say anything. I better clear up her misunderstandings about this issue with clarity. “The person who is going out with Akane is Watari. It’s not me.”

“Akane is going out with Watari?!?” Ann stands up and comes uncomfortably close to my face, staring right into my eyes.

“Yes.” I step back slowly, “I really haven’t talked to Akane before last week.”

Her face turns red, she sits back down and covers her head with her arms, “I’m sorry Arima”

“Sigh… It’s okay, Amamiya-san” I don’t mind clearing up rumors about me, it’s always better to clear them up before they reach a mass audience.

“Arima, are you sure Akane and Watari are going out?”

“What do you mean? Everyone knows about the perfect duo of Soubo High.” Ann transferred here so maybe she doesn’t know much about Watari, though I am surprised Akane didn’t tell her about her relationship with Watari. Maybe the recent events have made Akane question the closeness she had with Watari. But even so, don't leave space for people to misunderstand.

“Well… I've heard about something going on with Akane and Watari but I didn’t think they were going out.”

“What’s wrong with them going out?”

“Well… you see… I know Akane. Watari isn’t the kind of person Akane would choose.” Ann mumbled, “Ahhh… don’t get me wrong, Watari is a good person but… but… you know… Akane… she wouldn’t…” Ann’s body moves erratically as she looks for the words but not words leave her mouth.

“It’s okay Amamiya-san,” I better calm her. However, what does she mean by saying that Akane wouldn’t choose Watari? They are both popular, there isn’t one bad thing I can think about Watari, he’s perfect. That’s right he’s too perfect. Someone who is too perfect always has the worst secrets that they wanna hide, someone like Akane should have already reached that conclusion. And being around Akane so much Ann must have also picked up on those things subconsciously.

Thinking about that is just a waste of time for me, it’s not my responsibility to make sure Akane finds a good person, she’s a smart girl. What I need to be doing is to find a way to know what career Watari is choosing and something tells me I can use Ann for that.

“Amamiya-san, there’s something I have to know about Watari but I can’t ask him himself, would you be willing to help with that?”

Ann stares at me for a moment. “Is this something related to the thing you were helping Akane with?”

I shouldn’t say too much but if I want her help then I’ll have to tell that this is for Akane. “It is.”

“Sure. I’ll help you.” Her eyes shine a little. “What do you need to know? I don’t know if I’ll be able to help you but I’ll give it my all”

“I have to find out which workspace Watari is choosing for observing.”