Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Ride Home (Vol. 2 End)

After a long day at the gaming event, things had wound down after the matches were played. A lot of people had a good time, Hakuta included. It even seemed like his friends were able to find some things to enjoy as well.

There was one person he thought might not have enjoyed herself. That would be Ninka. He felt bad that it was likely all his fault if she was unhappy the entire time. The last thing he wanted to do was make her feel as though this was a wasted day.

Sure, she had come into this with the intentions of flirting with him and making him hers. So eventually he had to do something since there was no way that would last the entire day. Hakuta simply didn’t mean to upset her to the point where she didn’t even want to talk to him.

Then it got to the point where she admitted her plans on not dating him fully to avoid getting to close. As well as how she knew he only cared about Shiuka, so there was no point in trying to mend the bridge between them. He would disagree, but their conversation was cut off before he was able to try and plead his case.

So was he supposed to give up and just not be close to Ninka anymore? While they weren’t particularly close in the first place. He didn’t want to have a negative relationship with the girl. His chat with Shiuka didn’t help all that much. For whatever reason, she wasn’t interested in helping him out much with mending a relationship with one of her closest friends.

“Shame it’s already over.” Said Hakuta as they waited for the bus. As it was in the morning, there were dozens of people planning on doing the same as them. The bus was likely going to be full once again where they would struggle to find good spots.

“How about we sit the same way we did last time?” Rouko suggested. His ears perked up upon hearing the suggestion. If they did so, then that would mean he would yet again be riding back with Ninka of all people. Was she crazy? Clearly she had to be aware things weren’t good between them. Even if she wanted to make fun of Hakuta, didn’t she want her own personal friend to not be uncomfortable.

“I can live with that.” Ninka accepted the idea. It surprised him to see her not make any effort to try and change the plans by her friend. Was it because she wanted to sit next to him again? Or was he overthinking things, and she simply was too tired to bother arguing and planned on not talking with him on the way back. “Come on Hakuta, let’s go.”

She took him by the arm to lead the way ahead of the others so they would be able to find a pair of seats for themselves. Hopefully their friends would be able to secure the back seats for their own ride back home.

“Um, Ninka.” He spoke nervously as she tugged him along. “You know, you don’t have to force yourself.”

“You don’t need to worry about me.” She replied in a straightforward manner. “I’m not some baby, you’re not going to kill me.”

“But-”

“I don’t care if I’m stuck with you again.” She found them a spot and pulled him in so that he would get the window seat once more.

“Are you sure you don’t want to switch places?” He offered her the supposedly more premium window over the aisle. Though this was more for him, as at least with an aisle seat he could make a run for it if needed.

“No.” She sat down, making it clear that this was her spot and he had gotten his. Now Hakuta was trapped away from the others with her giving him a death stare. If she wanted to, she could murder him and hide the body under the seats.

“Look, I said I’m sorry.” He told her as the bus departed from the station. Now they were a good half hour on their trip alone. Hakuta peered back to see his friend were able to sit in the back. The looks on their faces made that position appear much funner than what he received. The boy couldn’t help but feel envy over how these circumstances turned out.

“I ain’t mad at you for that anymore.” She responded, crossing her arms. “It’s clear the two of us just aren’t meant to be.”

“But I’m friends with Iruka, and you know how she was when we met.” It was clear to everyone that girl had given him a ton of attention. Considering how the other gyarus treated her, it seemed they liked her a lot. So despite not knowing her for long, they must’ve also respected her opinions. “She was willing to give me a chance after I was a jerk, why can’t you?”

“There’s no reason for me to do that.” She replied. “You very clearly aren’t interested in me. Apparently I’m just not good looking enough for you.”

“I don’t want to date you because I think you’re ugly.” While he was always one to trash on gals when he had the chance, usually that information was kept to himself, Hakuta never thought any of them looked ugly. In fact he viewed them as quite the opposite. These girls were some of the prettiest in school outside of some of the cool beauties. “I just don’t know you well enough to say I’d want to date you.”

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“And you’re saying you would change your mind if you got to know me better?”

“I can’t say yes or no because I don’t know either way.” While it was entirely possible she was a wonderful girl that could be a better fit with him better than anyone would’ve imagined. Hakuta couldn’t deny the more probable outcome of him being turned off considering the type of person he knew her to be so far. “But why…”

A epiphany hit Hakuta as he stared at Ninka. While she never looked like the type of girl to him, was this because she was scared? He couldn’t believe it, for a moment he believed himself to be overthinking yet again about the kind of person she was. There was no reason for her to be scared or at least worried about him as a boy.

But maybe there was a reason for this after all. He had pointed out how all her flirting was physical. How she never gave him anything about who she was as a person, as a girl for him to work with. Maybe that was just the person she was. “You know, there’s nothing wrong with me rejecting you.” He changed up his sentence to fit into his new thoughts.

“I think you’re being an idiot.” She disagreed with his point. Getting rejected was a little bad, but it would be a bit more humiliating if someone like Hakuta did it. Publicly speaking, most people would view her as well out of his league when it came to dating. So one would reasonably believe he would be chomping at the bit for a chance of being her boyfriend, no matter how small the chance. “It’s a bit weird that you’re the one who doesn’t want me.”

“But that’s not your problem.” He figured it wasn’t simply a matter of people gossiping. While it certainly hurt her pride if they were to make fun of her for it. Which he disagreed that it was some issue with her if he wasn’t into her. But Hakuta knew it ran deeper than that. “I understand not wanting to tell me more about yourself, so you don’t want to get hurt.”

That was the crux of her problem. It was easy to use her looks on boys to get their attention. There were a lot of superficial people after all and she was blessed with a good appearance. But letting others see who she truly was on the inside was more scary. There was insecurity, sure, but the problem was knowing if someone did get closer to her and decided to break up with her. She would know it was because of who she was as a person. Something about it made it hurt worse. “I get it, because I’m pretty held back too.”

“Guess I really can’t get it both ways, right?” She replied, conceding to the truth. Ninka wanted to date people, wanted to get into relationships. But at the same time, she didn’t like getting hurt by a bunch of boys. So she decided to fit something that she viewed as better for her, at least until Hakuta exposed her.

“I think you deserve someone who really likes you.” He told her, assuring her that she didn’t have to be this way. When he said this, it perked her up a bit. As if what he said was of more importance to her than he originally intended. “I’m sure there’s a lot of boys who want to like you more than just what we all know.” It was hard for him to tell what an average boy was, since Hakuta didn’t hang out with all of them. But he felt confident that there had to be some around in their classroom.

“You really believe that for someone like me?” She asked.

“Of course, you just need to look for ones that are a little different than the ones you’ve been looking for normally.” He didn’t hate on those guys, but they might’ve been thinking with their boyhood instead. Hakuta was confident this was how Yuusen was like when he first told him about his feelings for her. It would explain why it didn’t last very long.

“Hmm, you might have a good point.” She finally seemed receptive to him once again. Also on the bright side, it also seemed he was back in her good graces, which was massive relief for him.

“I mean, I don’t know what boys you should be going for, but I’d bet there’s some guys who would be real good for you.” Now he felt like a parent giving her advice like this, but Hakuta began to believe she might have better success than before.

After they had finished talking, it seemed that time had really flown as their bus reached their station. “Looks like it’s time for us to get off and go home.” He knew he would have to go somewhere else first before coming back to his real home with Shiuka, but it wouldn’t be hard.

“Guess so.” She glanced back to the others, who were still grabbing all their things before leaving their seats. “Yo, Hakuta.” She spoke, grabbing his attention to look at her. It was at this time she took her chance and stole a kiss from him on the cheek.

“Hey, what was that for!?” He responded with his cheeks growing red from where her lips graced his skin. Hakuta thought this came from left field. He was certain she had given up on him by now.

“Call it my thanks for some relationship advice.” She giggled, quickly getting up from her seat it get in line with the strangers walking off the bus. “And some relationship advice from a girl, you should be happy when a girl kisses ya.” Ninka stuck out her tongue at him as she moved along the line, leaving him behind as the boy was forced to wait for the crowd in order to try and follow her. Though he knew that once he got off the bus, she’d already be gone.

“Ugh.” He gently touched with his fingers right where she planted her lips onto him. “I don’t get gals at all.”