42 Flowers for You (1/2)
The 6 PM action time was still in session as Arata and Yukari walked to their way home. Ruby and Tohru just went to visit Imperial Kitchen earlier, taking advantage of Arata's standing as its owner. They got a pretty room in the skydome and had the time of their lives. They had both taken off their shoes and socks or stockings to feel homier. Yukari followed suit, and the man only laughed at the playful women. He did not want to get left behind so he did the same.
Even though he was able to get a substantial rise in the rates of the three women with him, it left him sock-less. Ruby and Tohru decided to steal a sock each out of Alex's mischief. Those socks were expensive and limited edition in-game. The player sobbed a little inside.
Yukari noticed his bitter expression as they walked along the dim streets of the 6 PM action time. She could only smile and sigh in his stead. ”Don't worry, I'll try to get those socks back. I doubt Attei would dare take it from them by force.”
”Hahah, you don't have to think about those.” Arata scratched his head, chuckling in defeat. ”I'll just buy a new pair to replace them.” He looked down at his feet, feeling uncomfortable not having socks inside his thick-soled sneakers. ”It just feels weird right now. I was so used to having socks in case some bully takes my shoes away again. Walking home barefoot would be-” Arata paused and turned to Yukari.
”Someone stole your shoes before!?” She yelled and squirmed in anger. ”Who!?”
”N-No use now. They graduated.” He only laughed out, slipping another other world memory.
Yukari only shook her head and sighed. She then straightened and hummed as they waited for the light to go red for the cars. ”Say, Arata, what do you think is happening today?”
”Huh?”
”They were all acting pretty weird like something is happening under our noses.” Yukari tilted her head and had a hand on her chin as if the thinker. ”It wouldn't be weird if it was not Tohsaki-sempai, but of all people, she invited me to come with her. She was also actively talking to me earlier as well. Am I being tested or something?” She took Arata's hand and crossed with the rest of the pedestrians. ”There were also males waiting for Hamada-sempai. They're part of the club, but they are normally benched or something. The way they looked at sempai seemed weird, too.
”Then we also have Attei who was on a hunt for something again.” She sighed. ”I wouldn't be surprised if something shows up at school tomorrow.” Yukari only hummed with a happy huff. ”The girls didn't come to the club today. I wonder if Attei said something to them.”
Arata pouted and spoke in a teasing tone. ”Aren't you watching too much TV now? You think they're playing some kind of conspiracy?”
Yukari glared at him. ”Well, yes, I do. Remember when I helped Attei track down those girls who locked you? I'll have you know that your girlfriend is a complete pyscho.”
He could only scratch his head. ”This has nothing to do with me so... I doubt they will be acting against any of them. Unless...” -he recalled what Ruby had said earlier- ”she's helping out a girl.”
”A girl, huh. I wonder...” she hummed as they continued to walk.
[An Affection Scene has started! Secret Admirer Yukari Ginmachi has the Affection Rate at 70%. Try to earn as much points as you can to raise Affection Rate with the date-able! Remember what they like to hear!]
”I'm not the best person to be talking about this, but you see... Attori was referring to a group known to her as... well, Arata girls...” The player sobbed with a nervous smile. He was sure Yukari knew about it, but he had to swing the conversation to that topic.
”I think I know about that... she mentioned about it towards Wakaba if I remember things, right.” The admirer hummed louder, putting hand on her chin. ”Simply put, they the not-girlfriends you have, right?”
”Y-Yeah, but not everyone that is very close to me is part of that group.” He smiled at the girl with him. He held her hand tighter as they walked through the streets. ”It only involves those who Attori considers to be worthy of my attention. Those she considers as real rivals despite being my true girlfriend.”
Yukari shrunk her shoulders a little as a reaction to the hold. Her gaze went to their cupped hands before looking away. ”I-I see. So... what of it? This 'Arata Girls' group?” Her grip grew tighter as a reflex of her suppressed trembling. ”Do you think they're... onto something?”
Arata stared at her, occasionally glancing at where he's walking so he would not run into anything. ”Ah, it seems like you don't know.”
”Know what?”
”Being considered by Attori as someone worthy of my attention... also means being considered someone she should help in case of trouble.” He scratched his head again with a nervous chuckle. ”It sounds weird, but she thinks those girls are important enough for me to worry about so... she ends up doing whatever she can to make sure they'll be fine.”
”Uh... so?”
”You're... part of it.”
”What?”