I asked him to be my pretend-boyfriend but after a while I fell for him, but I can't seem to admit that fact! - Chapter 32: Akira's Past

Akira’s Past

Anyway, I parted ways with Nana-san, and returned home with Akira. Nana-san said she’d come back to thank me properly next time, but Akira told her not to come again. By the way, her appendicitis was apparently treated with medication.

‘Hey, do you really not know Nana-san?’ I asked.

‘Yeah, I really don’t,’ Akira replied.

‘From what I saw, you two seemed quite close,’ I remarked.

‘Close? Where?’ he questioned.

‘Where? Well, Akira was getting so worked up at her sudden appearance, and you rarely talk to anyone like that,’ I explained.

‘Really?’ Akira asked.

‘Yeah.’

‘But seriously, I don’t know her,’ Akira assured.

Well, Akira wasn’t the type to lie, so it must be true.

‘By the way, Akira, why were you so harsh with Nana-san?’ I asked.

‘Well, that’s because…,’ Akira began but seemed somewhat shy.

‘Why?’ I pressed. ‘Why are you blushing like that?’

‘Am I blushing?’ he asked.

‘You are.’

‘But seriously, I don’t know her,’ Akira repeated.

‘Okay, so why were you so tough on her?’ I inquired.

‘Well, you see…,’ Akira started to explain, appearing somewhat embarrassed.

‘What is it?’ I urged her on.

‘What is it?’ I prodded, growing curious. ‘Come on, you can tell me. Why were you so harsh to her?’

‘So…,’ Akira began, and then, as if he’d made up his mind, he looked me in the eye and started to speak. ‘It’s just that, depending on the circumstances… it could make you laugh, you know?’

‘Laugh? Why? Is it something funny?’ I asked.

‘Well, it’s funny depending on the situation,’ he replied.

‘Just tell me!’ I demanded. ‘If it’s that interesting, I want to hear it.’

‘You won’t laugh?’ he inquired.

‘Well, it depends on the situation, but I won’t laugh now,’ I assured him.

“Today, everyone gathered at Itsuki’s place, you know. So, um… I was feeling irritated because I didn’t have enough of that Itsuki element.”

I was taken aback by her words.

‘Oh, it was like that,’ I said.

I didn’t want to show how delighted I was, but I couldn’t help but smile. Akira was too cute.

‘Akira,’ I said, hugging him, and I couldn’t resist giving him a passionate kiss.

Akira’s elements… recharged.

***

“That’s it?”

“Well, she kind of reminded me of someone I know, and I might have taken it out on her a bit.”

Taking it out on her?

But it was a bit pitiful towards the end, wasn’t it? Getting so angry like that isn’t good,” I said.

“Okay, I understand. I’ll be careful from now on,” Akira replied.

As always, Akira was straightforward.

…

Hmm?

Wait, did Akira just say something that piqued my interest?

He said, ‘reminded me of someone I know,’ right?

“Hey, Akira.”

“Yeah?”

“When you said she reminded you of someone you know… Did you mean Nana-san?”

Akira put his hand on his chin and looked up, deep in thought.

“Well, I’m not sure. I don’t think she was quite like that.”

Then why did you say she reminded you of someone?

It’s a glaring contradiction.

“Nana-san… she kind of reminds me of the person I used to hang out with when I was in a rough spot.”

So, he does resemble her after all.

Hold on… Akira was in a rough spot?

I can’t even imagine it!

“Is that true? You were in a rough spot, Akira?”

“Yeah, I was in a pretty rough position. Around sixth grade and first year of middle school.”

“I see.”

“Well, you know, my parents weren’t home most of the time. So, it was kind of inevitable, I guess.”

He’s talking about it like it’s someone else’s story.

Well, anyway… I can’t picture it at all.

“You know, back then, it was because of me getting beaten up by Higuchi’s sister that I am now who I am today.”

What’s with that shocking story?

Wait, ‘sister? Does that mean it was a girl who beat him up?

He got beaten up by a girl?

“Hey, can I hear that story from the beginning?”

“It’s fine, but it might get a little heavy.”

… It might get a little heavy.

So… for Akira, it was a fairly significant event?

Well, even so…

“Do you want to hear it?”

“Sure, I understand.”

Akira smiled and began her story.

“You know, I was frustrated for a long time. I had too much free time, and I couldn’t find anything I wanted to do. So, I often clashed with the people around me”.

“I can’t imagine that, looking at you now,” I said.

“I think that too. Although I was just a kid, when I look back now, I wonder what I was so frustrated about back then?”

“At the time, I was like that.”

“So, around sixth grade and the first year of middle school?”

“Yes, I was pretty wild during that time. You see, my parents weren’t home most of the time. So, it was kind of inevitable, I guess.”

Hee’s again talking about it as if it’s someone else’s story.

Anyway… I can’t picture it at all.

“And then, at that time, I got beaten up by Higuchi’s sister, someone who would eventually become my best friend.”

What’s with that shocking story?