Before making my way home, I got a message from Akari.

"Heyyy~ could you come pick me up for a sec?~"

Akari should be working her shift at the café in front of the station right now.

This was the first time she'd ever asked me to come get her. ...Akari is usually pretty cheerful.

But whenever something really tough happens, she always hides how she truly feels.

From the tone of her last text message, I could tell something bad had just happened to her.

Thinking that, I hurried over to her work spot.

Inside "Café Arukuma" in front of the station. Chime chime "Welcome~"

A massive guy, nearly two meters tall, greeted me at the entrance.

I come here a lot, so I knew this was the owner. And apparently, he recognized me too.

"Well, aren't you Akari-chan's boyfriend? ♡"

It seemed this guy knew that Akari and I were together (tentative status, though).

"Good evening. Is that... is Ina here?"

As I spoke, his eyes narrowed slightly.

"Oh yes, she's out in the backyard. Go on ahead."

The owner opened the swing door and let me in. I hurried toward the office. "Akari!"

"Wwoah! A-Akari!?"

There she was, in the room that doubled as a break area.

She had some texts spread out on the table.

Akari looked surprised to see me there.

"G-Geez, you scared me! Why are you here? If you'd texted me, I would've gone outside."

It seemed her surprise was at the fact that I had come all the way into the office.

"Sorry... I just had this gut feeling. ...Wait, what are you doing with that?"

There were texts open on the table.

Akari wore a sheepish expression and mumbled, "Eh… well, it’s not like it matters or anything~," trying to brush it off. I lifted up the pamphlet.

It said 【N University, Department of Nutrition】.

"You... are those past exam questions...?"
"U-uh..."

The Department of Nutrition. Did that mean she wanted to become a registered dietitian or something?

Akari didn’t just struggle with studying; she hated it. I had assumed she’d skip university altogether...

"Stop it! Give them back! They’re Akari’s privates~!"

Akari snatched the past exams away and shoved them into her bag.

...I see. Akari is thinking about her future, huh.

Compared to me... wait, what am I saying.

"Akari. What’s wrong? You said you wanted a pickup?"

"Mmm... Um, well... look, I just want to go home with my boyfriend..." Akari forced a smile.

I’ve known this girl since elementary school.

So I know the tell for when Akari lies.

She fidgets with her hair and looks away when she's lying.

As if sensing that I’d already seen through it, she spoke with a resigned tone.

"...You might laugh at me for having an overdeveloped self-consciousness." "I wouldn't laugh. Go ahead."

Glancing sideways toward the cafe, Akari whispered.

"...Someone might have tailed me."