Ansatsu Kyoushitsu belongs to Matsui Yuusei

もう一度

Mōichido

「One More Time」

Chapter Eight

ベーグルカフェﾧ

「Vanitoy Bagel」

The crowdless JR station felt lonely as the rush hour had passed through. Couple groups of white collar worker were still lingering over their cigarettes by the metal pillars, but most of them had gone. The smell of fresh bread and ground coffee started to fade away from the hall as well, indicating the end of the busy forenoon.

Manami walked past the baffle gate and tootled along the passageaway, occasionally taking a sip from her too creamy pumpkin spice latte she had bought from her departure depot. Vacant gaze sailed around to note the uniform expression on every stranger proceeding from the opposite direction. Except for tourists, everyone was lifeless. Time always seemed to slow down on Friday mornings, almost felt like the clock never ticked.

The professor canceled class for today and her day instantly became vacant for good. Just when she wasn't in mood to be a quintessential nerd who spent hours in leafing through three-inches-thick hardcovered books, Ai was nowhere on this earth. She kept forgetting how dullsvile her life was until Ai wasn't there to drag her to be a company of a shopping spree or trying out some new uptown cafe. From sophomore year in high school until sophomore year in college; despite her coquettish nature, this brunette was indeed a loyal friend.

Exiting the terminal, Manami continued to stroll through the pavement, passing a couple of blocks before taking a turn to a pedestrian thoroughfare; the famous Ichibangai shopping street to be exact, which was lined with general shops and authentic restaurants on both side. The premises here adopted the structure of traditional Japanese storehouse. It must've been the reason TripAdvisor called it 'a little edo'.

At the heart of this historical place, stood a two-story bakery-cafe called Vanitoy Bagel with its bamboo cladding exterior and black canopy. It's usually packed out on weekends for its design was also so instagramable. It had been a while since the last time Manami came here to have a meet up with him.

The shop-bell chimed when she pushed open the door. The soothing aroma of newly-baked bagels drowned her cold body and she couldn't stop herself from inhaling a deep breath of it. Several people that had been standing on the cashier queue glanced at her as she sauntered pass them and climbed upstairs.

Entering the caff section, her gaze darted across the room at once, to the seat by the window where a guy with platinum blond hair and large bandana around his head was sitting alone at a table of two. Cup of coffee and a magazine was on the table, but his eyes found the outside view more interesting. Manami paraded towards him and the guy turned his head at the sound of her footsteps.

"I'm sorry to call you suddenly, Itona-kun," she said while settling at the empty seat in front of him. "I really need your help on my Metallurgy assignment."

"I'm free all afternoon," his voice was monotone but she knew it was sincere. "So where's Takahara-san? Didn't she take this class too?" he asked, taking the menu from below his mag and handing it to her.

Where was Ai? They hadn't been texting ever since the night gig. She might be too busy going out with that random hot guy her squad had discovered. Manami sighed. "Well, she has her own way to create a miracle and pass the class."

Itona knitted his brow into a scowl. "How can she pass the class with her super short notes that they practically look like a collection of haikus," he folded his arm over his chest and sunk into the metal chair. "I can't believe you're still with her after all these years. You can't be this caring."

"You care about her too," she hit back, eyes was fixed on the bunch of mouth-watering bagel pictures.

"She truly reminds me of Terasaka," sort of surprising he didn't try to argue. "Wild and airhead. Just more popular. . . and richer, i guess more narcissistic. . . actually just as violent."

Manami let out a breathy laugh as she imagined an encounter between Ai and Ryoma Terasaka right there at that moment. Regardless of being similar, she doubted they would become buddy-buddy. Someone like Ryoma Terasaka had a strong hatred towards flashy person, and Ai Takahara hated idiots. This building would be smashed down flat to the ground in their quarrel.

"I'm going to the restroom for a bit." Itona arose from his seat. "Decide what you want to order and we can start working on your paper," he said before leaving.

She was in the middle of pondering about would blueberry cream cheese be the best option when she heard a musical tune coming out from Itona's cellphone, in which he had left defenselessly next to his cup. An incoming call appeared on the screen, under the name of someone she didn't recognize.

When the ring had stopped, the display switched back to its wallpaper. It seemed to be a group photo of five people. Itona was in there, easily spotted with his adorable plaid headband. A curious girl she was, Manami squinted her eyes to peek at the screen.

It was surely a photo of Itona himself sandwiched between two guys in swimming trunks. The photo was sun-bright and certainly was taken at the beach. A second before the screen turned black, her eyes caught a sight of two figures crouching down in front of the other three. A familiar redhead and. . . a blonde?

Subconsciously did she grab the cellphone and clicked on the screen. The redhead was Karma Akabane, needless to say because who else was blessed with those unique apple-red hair apart from him and Seijuurou Akashi? Not a surprise if he mingled with Itona. However Karma wasn't the one to reap her attention.

Alongside him, was a skinny girl in nautical bikini. Her golden-blonde hair was straight and long, falling perfectly down around her hips. She seemed to be midway of yelling something, mouth open and eyes screw up with smile. Her long arms embraced Karma, tightly, lovingly. Karma had one hand on her lower back either. Their cheeks were close to touching, both tinted with a hint of pink.

"Oh, you shouldn't have seen that."

Manami jolted out, causing the device to tumble down on the table. "I d-din't," she stuttered in panic. "Th-there was a-an incoming c-call."

Itona took his cellphone as he parked himself on the seat. Unlocking the screen, he noticed the notification of a missed call below the clock. His daffodil irides shifted back to Manami whose face losing its color. Lips pressed into a thin line while adverting her gaze somewhere.

"They are in relationship, in case you wonder," he saw her twitching at his voice. "Not in secret but they're not much into PDA. I doubt even Nagisa-kun knows about it. I myself just happened to know when I found them on a date."

That reminded her how Nagisa still shipped her with Karma. "H-how long have they been dating?" the question felt dry in her mouth.

"Around a year or so?" he shrugged. "They went to the same high school and I think Nakamura-san confessed after graduation. This photo was taken summer last year."

After graduation, the word was recited in her heart. Rio Nakamura and Karma Akabane was partners in crime back in the assassination classroom. They possessed virtually equal prowess as ex-hitman and same mischievous character. No wonder if a romantic feeling developed between them after years being together.

"You're okay?"

She snapped awake, "y-yeah? I mean, of course." Clearing her throat, she added, "I actually met Karma-kun several days ago. He said he's now attending some kind of private class in Ageo."

"Oh right, Karma had pushed aside the traditional four-year-college and started volunteering here and there. He was sent abroad and came back couple weeks ago, I think. You met him?" he questioned and she nodded.

The hush of awkwardness filled the air. Manami locked her gaze at the scenery out the window. The street was finally alive for business. More people jammed the street with their opened umbrellas that looked like mayapple flowers from above. Was it raining again? Would summer ever come?

"Any plan after this, Okuda-san?" Itona prompted.

How she wished she had one. "Blank for good," head shook.

"Can you. . .," Itona scratched the back of his neck, his eyes wasn't on her anymore. "Can you accompany me to the department store? After working on your paper, that is."

The rain began to pour harder as Rio looked out the window of Karma's living room. It was the satisfying kind of rain which showered but didn't make so much noises when it hit the car roof. The kind that fall when you're in the middle of class and lasted for a couple minutes but would soak the baseball court completely. A downpour, what's up with the description anyway.

Rio rolled to the other side of the sofa, stretching out an arm to reach Karma's cellphone from the coffee table. She clicked the photo icon and scrolled through the camera roll. He wasn't a type to take pictures, so they were mostly screen-captured articles from some websites. They were also a lot of ugly selfies of his friends and some low quality candid picture of himself. Howbeit, the newest pictures were different.

The pictures on the bottom section that was taken couple days ago. Pictures of scenery; aureate sunset, shimmering ocean and glistening greyish sand. The beach seemed to be so warmth and welcoming. No one would believe it was taken in this unbroken winter.

"Shizuoka must be so nice," she cried out loud.

"Oh can you just stop!" A shout of complain was heard from bathroom. "I'm sorry I forgot to pick you up from the airport but it's a total accident that I ended up in Shizuoka with Okuda-san! I've told you this a million times!"

"If it wasn't because of Asano-kun found me freezing to death in front of your doorstep, I would've spent my night at the seven eleven." She found a candid picture of a certain coal-haired girl, Manami Okuda.

"I've apologized. Stop being so clingy!" Karma eventually stepped to the room, hair dripping wet with a towel around his shoulder.

Rio snorted, throwing his cellphone somewhere between the cushions. "Ego's so big no wonder you joined Team Valor."

"So it's my mistake too that you joined Team Mystic?"

"MYSTIC IS NOT A MISTAKE."

"They do sound the same."

"Don't get me started," the blonde snapped, sending a brutal glare to her boyfriend.

A chuckle came out from his lips as he made his way towards her and ruffled her hair. "Come on now. How about I accompany you hunting for Pikachus?"

"It's raining outside, you idiot."

"Well, let's hunt at the department store," he suggested as he plumped down next to her. "It's been a weeks since the last time we went out together anyway."

Rio turned to him, the death stare had gone but her eyes narrowed in annoyance. "You're so sly."

redhead's note

You may think I'm slow but this is the fastest update I could manage. I'm sorry if this chapter is a bit fillerish but I just want to clear things out about Karma and Rio. Thank you for keeping up with this story ever since the beginning! I really really hope we can end this story together.

Please leave me your review for this chapter as well! See you soon!

note: I'm currently editing the older chapters myself. I wrote them in freshman year, I guess? So many grammar mistakes.