—Bzzzzt
Hayato glanced at his phone screen.
[Lil. Kei]
He frowned deeply. His little brother was calling him?
Kei didn't usually call unless something big had happened—like the time he called from the police station after getting caught for underage drinking.
The time before that? Their parents fighting over their Dad's suspiciously young new secretary. Kei had a gift for drama—and dragging Hayato into it, and in the end?
He ended up cleaning up the mess.
So yeah, this call? Already a bad sign.
He didn't like taking chances, so he stepped outside to answer.
Most of the students' attention was already locked on the stage, where one of the juniors was performing. Taking advantage of that, he quietly slipped out—only to bump into someone.
He glanced down. A girl, probably a freshman. Tiny with a long blue-black hair, hoodie practically swallowing her whole. Looked like she got lost in her own clothes.
He opened his mouth to speak—
—Bzzzzt.
His phone buzzed again.
Sighing, he muttered, "Watch yourself," and kept walking.
He stepped into the cool night air outside the venue. The breeze rustled the trees gently.
He swiped to answer the call, hoping that it wasn't another problem he had to solve.
—Click.
The phone clicked and then a voice was heard from the other line.
A familiar voice—Kei's voice came.
It cracked as his spoke, his voice filled with words of affection.
—"Heeey, my beloved brother... how are you doing? Everything ok-okay?"
This didn't sit well with Hayato, Only one reason could cause his little brother to act this friendly, definitely Trouble.
Hayato narrowed his eyes.
"Cut the crap, Kei. What did you do this time? Don't tell me you were caught drinking again—or is it about them again?" he snapped. "Spit it out."
—"Come on, bro! I'm not in trouble... well, at least this time it's not about me. It's about you."
'Me?' Hayato raised an eyebrow. 'What the hell now?' Then Kei continued.
—"Well… Bro, congrats! You're getting married!"
Hayato froze.
"...What?"
—"Yeah. Mom and Dad arranged a blind date. They want you two to meet first, but it's set. Two months from now: wedding bells!"
Hayato blinked slowly.
Was Kei drunk?
"Are you high? What the hell kind of prank is this?"
—"No prank! All real. Anyway, I just delivered the message. Good luck~!"
—Click.
" Kei! Hey! KEI!"
Too late. The call was already dead.
Sigh...He sighed inwardly. How could this be and out of the blue at that?
He stared at the phone. Marriage? Blind date? Was this some kind of power move by his parents again?
He needed to go home. Fast. And find out what the hell happened.
As he brooded under the tree, and lost in thought, a flash of yellow caught his eye.
He squinted.
That yellow hoodie again.
It was the girl he bumped into earlier.
She looked nervous, almost panicking—fidgeting with her sleeves, stopping and starting, mumbling to herself.
When she reached him, she leaned in, whispering quickly.
"U-Um… I-I… Do you see those girls hiding over there?" she asked, pointing discreetly behind her.
He followed her gesture and saw a trio of girls awkwardly ducking behind some bushes. Holding up phones. Giggling.
'Ah!' It wasn't the first time girls asked him out, he was no stranger to this kind of public confessions.
But her next words took him off guard.
"I lost a bet… so just please reject me, okay? I'll be out of your eye in a second," she whispered, eyes wide and pleading.
Hayato blinked. A request to be rejected?
Interesting.
"Sure," he replied flatly.
But as he looked at her again—small, sincere, flustered—an idea crossed his mind.
Maybe if he had a "girlfriend," the others would finally back off. And his parents will let go of this absurd idea of marriage.
Why not? It's not like she'll reject him right?!
He is Hayato Arisaka after all. Any girl would be happy to have him.
The girl took a deep breath and stood up straight, cheeks flushed.
"Will you…?" she began nervously.
Then, suddenly rasig her voice she shouted:
"WILL YOU GO OUT WITH ME?!"
Hayato blinked, briefly startled by the volume. But he quickly regained his composure.
The girl bowed deeply, in what seemed waiting for his answer.
Hayato looked at her… and then finally replied:
"Yes."
"…What?"
The girl blinked, confused.
He thought she probably couldn't believe it, after all 'He' said Yes to her.
It was understandable she's shocked, any girl would be.
"What do you mean, 'yes'?" she asked, voice cracking.
Seeing the girl is still in shock, Hayato tried to explain to her, feeling proud he just made someone's wish come true: Dating him.
"You asked me out," he said calmly, "so I said yes. What's wrong?"
"But I told you—it was a dare! I didn't mean it!"
"So?" He said.
Although it was a joke, now that he agreed, she should just say Yes already and get it over with.
"So?!" she practically squeaked. "Who just says so to being fake-asked-out?!"
Hayato at this point seemed tired of explaining so he continued as if he never heard her former question.
"So…" he continued, with a slight tilt of his head and a mischievous smile, "when's our first date?"
Her jaw dropped, she couldn't even speak, he wondered maybe he should get another girl?
This one might me a little clingy.
Hayato raised an eyebrow.
"Hello?" he said, waving slightly, trying to wake her from her daze. "I asked you a question."
"Eh? W-What—" she stammered, completely flustered.
He was about to suggest they head back inside when she suddenly blurted out, something he never thought he would hear in his whole life:
"No, thanks."
He blinked, but before he could speak, she walked right past him—to her equally stunned friends, who had just stumbled out from the bushes, still recording and dragging them out of there.
Hayato stood there in silence, the wind ruffling his hair.
"Did I just get… re-rejected?" he muttered to himself.
He was the Hayato Arisaka.
What just happened?