It was past 5 PM. Most of the students from the 'Go-Home Club' had already left school, except for those in clubs who had just finished.
Most of the students walking out of the school gate couldn't help but stare at the black motorcycle, especially since its owner was wearing the same school uniform.
Unlike the other three, Nishikata, upon recognizing Tsuna, ignored the scattered students' whispers and quickly walked up to him.
"Miyamura, this…"
"Want to try it out?" Tsuna saw that Nishikata couldn't resist touching the motorcycle, so he understood what he meant.
Nishikata nodded vigorously at his words, his gaze falling on the back seat. Just as he was about to move, Tsuna shifted his right foot off the pedal and kicked down the kickstand. He leaned right, with his left leg still straddling the fuel tank, and landed on the ground.
"Here." Tsuna took off the black helmet hanging on the rearview mirror and handed it to him. "You have to wear a helmet when you ride."
"…" Nishikata didn't know whether to take it or not for a moment.
Tsuna saw his hesitation and realized that both of them had misunderstood each other.
"Tsuna, where's my helmet?" Just then, Shouko and the other two walked up, breaking the quiet atmosphere between them.
He took off the white helmet hanging on the other rearview mirror and handed it to Shouko. "I specifically chose it for you."
"Indeed, photos and the real thing are completely different."
Unlike Takagi-san, who was quietly observing from the side, Ajitani unhesitatingly reached out to stroke the body of the motorcycle.
She had never touched a motorcycle in her life, only glimpsing them from afar on TV or on the street.
"Miyamura, can I borrow it for a couple of laps?"
Tsuna looked at Ajitani, who seemed to have stars in her eyes, and refused without thinking. "Wait until you get your driver's license."
'???' Nishikata, who had retreated to Takagi's side, gave him a speechless glance. He hadn't said that just now.
Seeing this, Ajitani no longer asked, for example, if she could get a ride for a couple of laps, since she feared Shouko-chan next to her would pinch her to death if she said it out loud.
Eventually, Nishikata and the others chatted about the street bike for a while, then said goodbye and left.
On one hand, they wanted to go home early, and on the other hand, more and more students were coming out of the school gate, and they couldn't quite stand the gazes those people were casting.
"Can I help you?" After the others left, Tsuna pointed to the white helmet in Shouko's hand.
Shouko nodded in agreement, handed him the helmet, and then leaned her cute head over.
"Tsuna, the strap is tangled in my hair…" Shouko mumbled softly, as if complaining.
Tsuna pretended not to hear, lowering his head to carefully untangle the hair.
The faint fragrance of Shouko's hair, mixed with the sweet stickiness of sunscreen, wafted into his nostrils. When her hair brushed the inside of his wrist, it tickled like a cat scratching his heart.
"I'll be careful next time." He finally straightened the helmet, tapping the top of it with his knuckles, making a 'thump-thump-thump' sound, which caused Shouko, who had been staring at his face, to pause.
Quickly putting some distance between them, Tsuna got back on the bike, kicking the kickstand away with the tip of his shoe. As his school uniform shirt billowed in the wind, it carried a faint scent of engine oil.
In the rearview mirror, Shouko could be seen slowly approaching.
She clutched her backpack straps with both hands, her skirt clinging tightly to her knees in the warm breeze, causing her steps to be smaller than usual.
"Tsuna, will I really not fall off?" She stared at the faintly growling exhaust pipe, carefully avoiding the scattered cherry blossoms on the ground with her tiptoes.
Tsuna deliberately twisted the throttle at that moment, and the vibration of the engine made her shoulders shrink back in fright. This resulted in Shouko's angry pout and threatening clenched fists.
"Don't worry, you won't fall. Just hold on tight here." He patted his waist, his school uniform jacket still retaining the lingering warmth of the afternoon sun.
No sooner had he spoken than Tsuna hadn't fully reacted before Shouko had already stepped onto the kickstand and sat on the back seat, her hands tightly wrapped around his waist, wishing she could press even closer.
"…" The soft touch from his back brought him back to his senses and slowly eroded his rationality. "Is it a bit too tight…?"
"Aren't I afraid of falling?" Shouko looked at his ear tips, which were gradually turning red, and felt a slight urge to bite them…
As she spoke, Tsuna could clearly feel a warm breath on his ear.
"If you're like this, it'll be hard for me to ride…"
"Alright." For safety's sake, Shouko loosened her grip a little.
However, Tsuna felt there wasn't much change, and he suddenly felt a bit stiff, not daring to make any big movements…
"Tsuna… your ears are so red."
"It's hot."
"But… but your heartbeat is also very fast. Is that also from the heat?"
This time, Tsuna didn't argue. Instead, he put on his helmet and slowly started the bike. Shouko also stopped asking, and a muffled chuckle faintly came from behind him.
Meanwhile, at the school gate, two boys who had been chasing and playing from the Art Club watched the two riding off on the motorcycle.
"Dōto, stop looking. They're almost out of sight." The boy who first averted his gaze raised his hand and patted the shoulder of the boy next to him.
"When the time comes, you can buy one too if you work part-time during the winter and summer holidays."
"…" The boy called Dōto didn't speak, his gaze retracting from the two people on the distant vehicle.
"What are you thinking about?" The other boy looked at him, puzzled by his silence.
Usually, he would have retorted that he didn't like that kind of car or called him boring.
"No… nothing. Let's go."
Dōto took the first step in the direction Tsuna and Shouko had left, and the other boy quickly followed.
"I can't believe Shouko classmate actually has a boyfriend." Halfway there, the boy, seeing his continued silence, casually brought up a topic.
"…"
The boy saw that he still wasn't speaking and continued, "At first, I thought Shouko classmate was the shy and timid type, but I didn't expect her to be so open and even so proactive!"
"…"
"But luckily, Ajitani doesn't seem to have a boyfriend yet, so I still have a chance!"
"…"
"Shouko classma—"
"Can you shut your mouth? What if that's her brother, not her boyfriend?" The boy next to him finally lost his patience and interrupted him.
At first, he hadn't thought much of it, but the other person kept saying 'Shouko' this and 'Shouko' that, and it was really getting unbearable, as if it were intentional.
The boy wasn't annoyed by the interruption. He walked forward with his arms crossed, still grinning.
"I don't think so. There's no similarity in their appearances at all.
And if they were siblings, they'd be way too intimate. Even real siblings maintain a safe distance."
"…"
"I'm telling you, that's definitely Shouko classmate's boyfriend. If you don't believe me, let's make a bet."
"Bet what?"
"Just a meal. I'll go ask Ajitani tomorrow."
"Alright!" The boy was still somewhat unconvinced that Shouko had a boyfriend.
With the bet placed, the two reached a crossroads where they would part ways, waved goodbye, and walked in different directions.