“That’s a lie. That woman seems to think she’s a real journalist, and no professional would ever give out information for free. What did you give her?”
Mai definitely seemed to know more about the TV biz than he did. He wasn’t lying his way out of this. And she wasn’t going to let him say nothing. He was forced to confess.
“A photo. Of the scar on my chest.”
He neglected to mention they’d shared a bathroom stall to take the picture. And the fact that her perfume had been a bit of a turn on? He would carry that bit with him to his grave.
“You idiot!”
“Harsh.”
“You really are an idiot. What the hell were you thinking?”
Her voice was ragged. He could tell she was genuinely furious.
“Well, I want to help you.”
“……”
“I really do.”
He was too scared to look her in the eye. His gaze slid sideways.
Mai sighed, letting her hands fall away. Sakuta’s cheeks were finally free, but they still stung.
“Those scars bring up painful memories for you. And it might affect your sister.”
Mai looked very serious.
“She said she’d leave Kaede out of it.”
“But if she covered that story two years ago, there’s a chance someone’ll connect it to you.”
“I suppose.”
“Right.”
Mai held out her hand. Unsure what she meant, he put the two shopping bags together and tried to hand them to her.
But she slapped them away.
“I’m asking for that woman’s number.”
“You could have just said.” He ran back through the conversation, confirming she definitely hadn’t.
“Work out that much from context.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“You don’t know how scary TV can be. If the media catch wind of something, you’ll be swarmed in an instant! I can already see the cameras staking out your house.”
Sakuta could see them, too. He’d seen people caught up in a scandal, bathed in judgmental stares, flinching against the strobe of flashes, pelted with questions…and then he imagined himself in the center of that maelstrom.
“……”
He gulped.
“…I feel sick already,” he said, conscious of the blood draining from his face.
“And if it actually happens, you’ll feel a hundred times worse.”
Mai’s finishing blow hit hard. Sakuta was starting to suspect he’d made a fatal error. A chill ran down his spine.
“Next time, be more careful. Hear?”
Mai was annoyed, but not in an unpleasant way. She was scolding him, but with a warmth behind it. Sakuta realized this was because her anger came from genuine concern.
“Well?”
“Message received. I’ll be careful. But she already has—”
“Yes, so?” Mai held up her hand again. “You know her number, right?”
Fumika had given Sakuta her card. He took it out of his wallet and handed it to Mai.
Mai read the front, then flipped it over.
“A handwritten cell number? Sketchy.”
Sakuta felt accused.
“I do go for older women but not that much older.”
“Hmph.”
Still disgruntled, Mai punched the number into her smartphone.
“Mai, what’s your plan here?”
“You be quiet.”
She put the phone to her ear and turned her back to him. Fumika picked up immediately.
“Sorry for the sudden call,” Mai began. “This is Mai Sakurajima. We worked together before. I promise this isn’t a prank call. Please don’t hang up. Yes, that’s right. The Mai Sakurajima. I’m fine, thanks. Is this a good time?”
Mai moved things along with practiced ease.
“I’m calling to discuss Sakuta Azusagawa. We attend the same school. Yes, that’s correct.”
The calm way she handled the phone call made Mai seem like a reliable adult.
“I’d like to request you not make the photo of his chest scars public. I’d also appreciate it if you minimize the number of experts you show the photo to. Yes, obviously not for free. I’ll provide a scoop of equal value.”
“W-wait, Mai!”
What was she about to offer? Sakuta didn’t want her offering herself up for him.
Mai glared over her shoulder, placing a finger to her lips like she was shushing a child.
“Yes, I’m aware of that. I’m confident the information I’m offering will be satisfactory.”
She turned her back on him again.
“I’m about to end my hiatus. When I do, I’ll give you an exclusive interview. Yes, naturally, that alone won’t be buzzy enough. But this next part should be convincing.”
She paused a moment. What came out next sounded like she’d prepared it a long time ago.
“I won’t be returning to my mother’s office. My return will be handled by new management.”
Sakuta was probably far more shocked by this turn than Fumika Nanjou. A few weeks back and then again today…they’d just been arguing about this very thing. The more he advocated Mai should go back to work, the more adamantly she’d refused. So what exactly was she saying? She was ending her hiatus? How could he not be surprised?
“I’m sure you can see that this topic will have a far more immediate impact than Azusagawa’s. After all, most people won’t even believe that story. By all means, think it over.”
The next few minutes were just “Yes,” “That’s right,” and “Agreed,” as Fumika verified a few things.
“Then we have a deal? I look forward to working with you again.”
Polite to the very end. Mai hung up.
She turned back to Sakuta.
“There you have it!”
“Sorry.”
“Why would you apologize?”
“Thank you.”
“But seeing you all downcast like this is kinda cute.”
This time Sakuta didn’t have a glib response. He really owed her one. The chill he’d felt when he pictured the cameras chasing him around was totally gone. He felt safe again. And that was all Mai’s doing.
“But you’re really going back?”
And with new management.
“You were right about that, Sakuta.” Mai seemed reluctant to admit it. “I liked making movies and TV shows. It was hard work but rewarding. I never wanted to stop. And I shouldn’t be lying to myself about that. Satisfied?”
“Not at all. That’s barely a start!”
“Th-this is the part where you’re supposed to forgive me!”
“You’re the one who spent two whole weeks avoiding me.”
“And now I just helped you!”
“That’s that; this is this.”
“Urp…fine. I shouldn’t have been so hardheaded. I’m sorry. Are we good?”
She clearly hated having to admit fault but also knew it was the right thing to do.
“One more time.”
“Forgive me! I regret everything.”
“If you were only looking up at me through your eyelashes, it would be perfect.”
“Don’t push your luck.”
Mai grabbed his nose.
“Augh! Don’t do that!” he yelped, his voice sounding muffled.
Mai laughed out loud. “You sound ridiculous!”
Only then did Sakuta realize why she’d been waiting for him outside his apartment.
Mai had come to tell him she was going back to work.
She’d made up her own mind long before he shared what Fumika told him.
A small part of him found that frustrating, but for the most part, he felt pretty good about it.
“Man, the world keeps turning on its own.”
“What did you say?”
“Just talking to myself.”
They began walking again. He felt like the mood had improved a lot. If Mai’s decision cur
ed her Adolescence Syndrome, everything was perfect.
Three minutes later…
“Here we are,” Mai said, stopping outside Sakuta’s apartment building.
“Huh?”
“I live here,” Mai elaborated, pointing at the building across the street. She’d told him before she lived close by, but he hadn’t thought she meant this close. This was definitely the biggest shock of the day. Even more than her going back to work.
“Thanks for carrying these,” she said, swiping the bags from his hands.
Sadly, it looked like she really wasn’t going to invite him in.
“Oh, right, Sakuta…”
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
“Come out with me this weekend.”
He’d called her Your Majesty by accident, but there was an imperious ring to her voice that really fit.
“Once I’m back at work, I won’t have much free time. I’ve been living here for two years, but I’ve never gone to Kamakura. Ridiculous, right? I should definitely go there once.”
“Will it be that easy to get work?” He shot her a dubious look.
“I’m Mai Sakurajima,” she said.
The amazing part was that this didn’t sound like pride talking. It was just convincing. Like a simple statement of fact. He felt like Mai’s schedule would fill up immediately.
“Oh, uh, but Sunday…”
“You have something more important than me?”
“I’m on the early shift on weekends. Mornings and the lunch rush.”
“Just get someone to switch with you…is what I would like to say, but…” She’d clearly meant it at first. “It feels like you care about work more than me, which is infuriating.”
“I’m off at two, so after that…”
“Argh, fine.”
She stomped on his foot, suggesting it really wasn’t fine. But she claimed to accept it. He wasn’t sure if she was acting childish or mature. Maybe somewhere in between—a little of both at once. That was Mai Sakurajima in a nutshell, Sakuta thought.
“Don’t you smirk at me.”
“How can I not? You asked me on a date!”
“Oh—this isn’t a date.”
Denied.
“Aww.”
“You want a date that bad?”
“Of course!” He nodded firmly.
“Then we can call it one.”
“Cool.” He pumped a fist.
“You’re that pleased?”
“Well, yeah.”
“Okay. Five past two at the gates of the Enoden Fujisawa Station.”
“I’m working until two, remember?”
“I’ve given you five whole minutes.”
“If the restaurant’s crowded, I might not be able to leave on the dot. Give me a little more slack, please.”
“Fine. Two thirty. If you’re even a second late, I’m leaving.”
“Got it!”
And thus, in the most surprising fashion, Sakuta got his first ever date.
That evening, the jubilant cries of an adolescent male echoed through the Azusagawa bathroom.
1
It was a beautiful day. Sunday had finally arrived, and it proved to be perfect date weather.
Sakuta managed to get off work exactly at two, giving him enough time to race back home first.
A three-minute bicycle ride.
Kaede came out to greet him, and he patted her once on the head on his way to the bathroom.
He’d worked up a sweat pedaling home, so he rinsed off with a quick shower and, just to be safe, changed his underwear. Then he noticed Kaede’s questioning look.
“Men must be prepared for anything,” he declared. “I’m outta here, Kaede!”
“Uh, okay. Bye.”
She saw him off, clutching Nasuno. It was now 2:20. He headed for Fujisawa Station on foot.
His steps felt light. He was walking normally, but in his heart, he was skipping along merrily. Like there were wings on his feet.
Roads he went down every day looked entirely new. His eyes lit upon flowers peeping through cracks in the pavement. His ears caught the sounds of sparrows on the telephone lines.
And he loved it all. The spirit of generosity resided within him.
At the peak of his cheer, he heard a little girl crying. He was maybe a three- or four-minute walk away from home.
Just ahead was the entrance to a park. The kid was standing in front of it, bawling her eyes out.
“What’s wrong?” he said, going over to her.
She looked up and momentarily stopped crying. But a moment later, she wailed again. “You’re not Mommy!”
“Are you lost?”
“Mommy’s not here.”
“So you’re lost.”
“Mommy’s lost.”
“A valid interpretation.”
This girl seemed to have a bright future.
“Now, now, don’t cry,” he said, kneeling down and putting his hand on her head. “I’ll help you find your mom.”
“You will?”
“Yeah.” He nodded, smiling. He was hoping this would get her to smile back, but she just looked confused. “Just come with me.”
He took her hand, but before he could stand up…
“Die, pedo creep!” someone shouted behind him.
What? He tried to turn and look, but before he could see her face, a sharp pain shot through his butt.
It felt like the tip of a hard boot had landed right on his tailbone. Which was almost certainly what had actually happened…
“Aughhh!” he roared, rolling across the pavement. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a girl roughly his age. Mid-teens. A high school girl.
A fluffy short bob. Short skirt, too. Bare legs. Unobtrusive makeup—definitely the fashion of the day.
“Now’s your chance! Run for it!” she urged, looking dead serious.
The kid just blinked at her. “Huh? Why?” she asked, totally lost.
“It’s obvious! Come on!”
It wasn’t obvious, but she grabbed the kid’s hand and tried to pull her away.
“Before this pedo creep stands up!”
“I’m not a pedo creep!” Sakuta said, struggling to his feet and clutching his ass. It hurt too much, and there was no strength in his legs. His legs were shaking, and he looked like a newborn fawn.
“But he’s helping me find my mommy.”
“Huh?” The new girl gaped at the kid and then at Sakuta. “You’re really not a pedo creep?”
“I’m into older women.”
“So you are a creep?!”
But her conviction was clearly shaken. Now that he looked, she was pretty cute. A bit of a baby face, big round eyes. The light makeup she wore had a nice, softening effect. He’d seen more than his share of girls at school who went a bit heavy on the cosmetics, but Sakuta thought this girl had definitely applied it well.
“I just found this kid and was trying to help her find her lost mother.”
“No way. This kid’s the one who’s lost.”
“Mommy’s lost,” the little girl said firmly.
With that, she pulled away from the new girl, moving to Sakuta’s side. She grabbed hold of his sleeve. The tables had turned.
At this point, the new girl had to admit she’d read things wrong. She smiled awkwardly.
“Ugh, my butt hurts!”
“S-sorry. Ah-ha-ha.”
“I think you split my ass in two!”
“What? That sounds ba— Wait a second, it already was!”
“Ow, oww, owwww.”
“F-fine! All right!” the girl yelled…and then turned around, bracing her hands on a telephone pole. “Go on!”
And with that spirited cry, she thrust her miniskirt-clad butt in Sakuta’s direction.
“Go on and what?”
She clearly wanted him to kick her ass, but kicking a schoolgirl in broad daylight was so not his thing.
“Just get it over with! I’ve gotta meet a friend!
”
Sakuta had someone to meet, too. A very important date. And the more time he wasted here, the closer his deadline got. And he still had to help the little girl—he was definitely going to be late at this rate. He couldn’t afford to waste time on anything else.
It might be faster to just kick her in the butt and move on.
“Right, okay.”
He gave her a light tap. That would be enough, surely.
“Stronger!” she yelled, glaring over her shoulder.
“Really?”
He kicked her a little stronger. There was a satisfying thwack.
“More!”
Still not enough, somehow.
“Fine, don’t blame me later!”
She’d left him with no choice.
Good men had a duty to fulfill women’s wishes.
Sakuta lowered his center of gravity and pulled his leg back, charging it with power. He locked onto the round target butt, took careful aim, and unleashed the hardest middle kick he could.
The impact noise was downright unsettling.
A moment later…
“O-owieeee!” she yelped. In Hakata dialect. “Unh…”
She fell to her knees, groaning. Both hands tenderly clutched her backside. The pain was so great she couldn’t even speak. Her mouth flapped uselessly, like a goldfish.
“My butt split in half…,” she managed at last.
“Don’t worry! It already was.”
“Uh, what’s going on here?”
They both spun around. A man in a police uniform was staring at them, looking very confused.
“I’m afraid I can’t let you enjoy deviant activities in broad daylight at a public park.”
“She’s the only deviant here!” Sakuta said, pointing at the high school girl.
“N-no! I’m not! There’s a good reason for this!” She sounded desperate.
“You can explain that reason at the station.”
He grabbed them each with one arm. There was no wriggling out of that. Cops knew how to handle people. This one might be getting on in years, but he was clearly quite strong. The safety of the neighborhood was in good hands.
“I’m on my way to something important! Please let go!”
Getting questioned would be a disaster. Even if, by some miracle, it only lasted five or ten minutes, Mai was hardly going to wait that long. After all, she was Mai Sakurajima.
“Sure, sure. No struggling. This way. You, too, little lost girl. You mother’s waiting at the station.”
Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai, Volume 1 Page 8