Arisu POV
April 23
There was only one night before school began once again along a new wave of challenges. Ryuuen and his class C, and the Acting Director are examples of such trials, however, the first one was about to start now.
It was nearly 10 pm, but instead of going to sleep, my heart was racing as I was wide awake. This was because in a few minutes, I would have my first phone call with my lover, Kiyotaka Ayanokouji.
Neither of us have had any experience in this field before, but I still pestered him into doing this. After all, I too was a girl who wished to enjoy a heart throbbing call with the person she loves.
"This should be fine."
*Ring, ring
《Hello, Kiyotaka?》
Just as I had expected, I began to feel a little restless.
《Arisu... there's still almost 10 minutes before the scheduled time.》
《Fufu, it seems I got a little too excited. Sorry about that.》
It was 9:52 pm.
《Well, I guess it's alright, I had nothing better to do anyways.》
《Hm? By the sound of things you've been waiting for a while yourself.》
《...Well, I am still quite new to this. Besides, I don't think you can talk about being early.》
《Heehee》
We haven't been dating for too long yet, but our conversations were already flowing quite smoothly with one another considering his lack of social skills. I couldn't help myself from giggling every once in a while as I failed to hold my excitement.
《This is also new for me too, and I must say; it gets my heart racing.》
《I see.》
His voice was as calm as ever, but I've learned to look passed this and was now able to see things as if I were him. The emotions he was feeling probably weren't the same as mine, but I could still tell he was enjoying himself as he experienced something new.
This was a time where both of us didn't have to pretend, a time where we could converse as ourselves without ulterior motives.
《So what did you have in mind for this phone call?》
《Hmm... I never really thought too much about that. All I wanted to do was hear your voice.》
《Couldn't you have just done that during our dates?》
《Perhaps, but the feeling of it being over the phone is different. You feel it too right?》
Our last date had been on the 17th, which was 6 days ago. I had wanted to meet with him more, but our free time never matched up as we needed time to prepare for the upcoming year.
《I suppose that's true.》
《Oh right, before I forget we should make a schedule for our dates during school days. It would be pretty sad if we could only send gazes at each other in the halls.》
Although we had talked about the possibility of our time together decreasing, we hadn't actually done anything about it. So seeing as this was a good time, I took the chance and asked him.
《It would become pretty difficult to hide it at that point. I'm sure some people around us would start suspecting our relationship no matter how much we hid it.》
This was close to the response I had expected, but something felt off.
《You're not refusing? What happened to you wanting to live a peaceful school life?》
During our last meeting, he was clearly against the idea of doing such a thing, and I merely talked while assuming that. However, this reaction was the complete opposite. I expected him to give some reasons as to stop me.
《You could say that a meeting with a certain persom gave me another perspective in how to live the rest of my highschool life. Starting this year, I might change my approach to doing things. Although I won't do anything too extravagant yet, I'll begin to show my true abilities slowly.》
《...》
《Besides, me deciding to start this relationship with you already sealed the fact that my life was going to change one way or another in this school, so I might as well use that to shape my path.》
《...My my, things will start to get more interesting with you in the mix, although we can't compete until our 3rd year unfortunately.》
These were my true thoughts. I had honestly never imagined Kiyotaka to willingly give up his peaceful life for something like this.
《So then is it fair to assume that you only want to hide our relationship until we find the White Room Student?》
《Attracting more attention would only make it harder to find the infiltrator from the White Room. The less eyes I have on me, the less of an advantage they have.》
《I understand. Then I suppose I'll help you out a bit as well, after that we can go on as many dates as we like.》
《I guess so.》
The excitement within me was at an all time high. Now, not only would we get to spend more time together, but I also have something to look forward to in the upcoming year.
《Still, finding the student and getting rid of the Acting Director won't be an easy task to do, so until then why don't we have secret dates. Even if someone does find out, we'll just have to make sure they won't say anything.》
《I'm alright with that much I suppose, I don't usually have anything to do on my free time aside from hanging out with some friends.》
《As for me, I'm usually busy with getting the class sorted out, but I could make some time once or twice a week. How does Tuesdays and Thursdays sound? Naturally if you're busy, you can cancel, but atleast try to clear anything on those days.》
《That's fine.》
With that, we had arranged our dates for the oncoming school year. I had no doubt the people closest to us would find out first, but then again, those were the people easiest to manipulate.
《Have you come into contact with Karuizawa-san by the way?》
《No, it seems like she's been avoiding me. I guess it still hurts her to remember the fact that I'm dating you.》
《I see, and I forgot to ask you this last time as well, but did you notice her feelings before hand?》
This was a question I wanted to ask last time, but failed to do so in order to gage how much he can read into other people's emotions.
《I had a suspicion, but I wasn't sure. In fact, before you and I started dating, I had already thought of a way to confirm her feelings and confess. Although in the end, I just never did it since I ended up spending most of my time with you.》
《Kiyotaka, please don't talk about confessing to other girls with me, I just might end up getting angry.》
《... Arisu, are you the type of person to get jealous easily?》
《Only when it comes to you. Who knows what kind of things you'd pull without my consent.》
Since Karuizawa's confession, I've taken note of the fact that Kiyotaka was someone who didn't hesitate to use intimate acts if it made things easier. Of course I understood his position, and that was probably the best thing he could have done to calm her down and get her to open up more at the same time, but I still couldn't help but get envious.
《Those acts are for me and me alone. As your girlfriend, I have the right to monopolize you as I please. I don't care if it's inefficient, just don't do that again.》
There was a brief silence as I could feel my face get a little heated up. I could imagine his look of confusion right now, as he was probably wondering if a lover really had the right to monopolize their significant other.
《I get it, I get it. I promise that those kinds of acts will only be for Arisu.》
《I'm glad you understand, and if I catch you doing something like that again without my permission, I'll be sure to punish you thoroughly.》
《...》
It seems my words worked as intended.
《Are you thinking of something lewd perhaps?》
《Sorry, but I am a guy. White Room or not, my hormones still act on their own.》
《Fufu, I don't particularly mind, but please keep it to a minimum. It would be strange if you thought too much about that.》
《Hmm, you know, Haruka actually told me before that girls usually get angry when guys do that, even if they are dating.》
《Haruka? Oh, Hasebe-san from your little group... I guess most girls would dislike that, but if it's you, I don't really mind. After all, you're someone special to me, and it's not something you could control right?》
《I'll keep that in mind.》
With the end of a somewhat akward conversation, only silence was left once again. He really had no good communication skills to continue the conversation, so it was up to me to keep it going. This might also be good training for him.
《I don't have many tales about doing things with friends aside from some moments with Masumi-san, but from what I could tell, you seem to have some stories. Mind sharing them with me?》
《I don't think you'd find these things interesting, humans tend to stray away from trivial things that don't concern them.》
《That is true for most people isn't it? But seeing as the stories involve you, I'd be willing to hear them. Besides, it could also give me a better grasp as to the things you know and the things you don't.》
《Alright, let's see...》
I didn't know for how long we talked after that, but just like I suspected, I really did enjoy myself despite the topics being completely trivial and irrelevant to me. At times, I would add my thoughts on the matter, while other times, I'd be giggling from his mistakes due to a lack of common knowledge. He too, seemed to be enjoying himself despite having a completely flat tone. This was probably a first for us both where we enjoyed ourselves in nonsense. I guess it was one of the perks of being in a relationship.
After listening to him for a while, I checked the time to see just how late it was.
10:58 pm
It seems we had chatted for some time, and what's worse, there was school tomorrow.
《《It's getting late, so perhaps/maybe we should-》》
《《...》》
Like it was rehearsed, we both spoke the same line at the same time.
《Hehe, looks like we had the same thought.》
《Seems so.》
《It's been fun, but I do need to get atleast 7-8 hours to feel refreshed. As much as it pains me, we'll have to end it here.》
《Yeah, goodnight Arisu.》
《Goodnight Kiyotaka...》
Just then, an idea came to my head. Before I cut off the call, I spoke-
《I love you.》
-Beep