109 Chapter four, 2016, beach party: 6 (1/2)
”You're a cute one.”
Noriko wheeled and looked up into a chest. She had to bend backwards to see the face. One of the models.
”Sorry, didn't mean to startle you. I apologise.”
”No problem. Shouldn't you be over there harassing Kuri like the rest?” Noriko pointed at where Kuri sat in the middle of a large group made up of most of the models and quite a few of her old fan-club. Urufu stood a bit away fiddling with the barbecue of all things when his girlfriend was being hit on.
”Takado Nao,” the stranger said and reached out with his hand. Noriko shook it. ”And no, I don't plan to harass her. She already has a boyfriend anyway, doesn't she?”
”Yeah,” Noriko said and nodded in Urufu's direction. ”That one.”
”Him?”
”What about it?”
Takado-san guffawed and turned away from her. ”Sorry, but it's just hilarious. I heard Shoji-sempai got his arse handed to him by a guy in a business suit.
Noriko looked at the gaudy towel Urufu had draped himself in and wondered how the model possibly could have confused it for a suit.
”My girl, look at his trousers and shoes.”
'I'm not you girl.' Noriko did as she was told anyway. 'Oh, that's pretty much what dad wears. Where's the rest?' ”I see, and what made you notice?”
”Model here. I work with clothes,” Takado-san answered. He looked down at her, and she could see how he made an effort not to look condescending.
”Wakayama Noriko.” It was her turn to reach out a hand. He took it.
”Wakayama-san is it?”
Noriko nodded.
”Do you mind if I chat with you for a while?”
She shrugged. ”I don't mind, but shouldn't you hit on one of the beautiful ones over there?”
That earned her a laugh. ”No thanks. I think I'll hit on the beautiful one right here instead.”
”Huh?” Noriko turned to see who had come up behind them before she grasped the meaning of his words. ”No way. Quit the bull. Cute, possibly, but beautiful is out of the question.”
Takado-san grinned. ”Don't you think that's for me to decide? And just so we're clear here. I am hitting on you.”
That made her blush a little. He was stupidly good looking after all. ”I like someone else,” she murmured.
”Ageruman-san's boy?”
Her heart almost stopped. 'Am I that transparent? Thank all gods Urufu already knows!' ”How?”
”I only work part time as a model. I'm a second year at Irishima High. Some of you guys at Himekaizen are pretty famous there.”
She looked at him. ”Why aren't you an idiot like the rest?”
”That's harsh,” Takado-san said. ”Actually it's only Shoji-sempai who's an arse. The rest of the gang is over there to make sure he doesn't do something really stupid. Besides, why should you complain if she cheated on him?” he added and nodded at Urufu.
Noriko looked at Urufu who was momentarily lit up by flames as he put fire to the grills. 'Why should I? She glanced at the tall boy by her side. Why me? He should be making passes at Hitomi-chan instead.' But it was a little flattering.
She tugged at his sleeve and pulled him with her. Noriko felt sand give way under her feet as she walked towards the group with Kuri in the centre. ”Irishima High, you said?” There was something she had promised herself, even though she knew Ryu would frown at her decision. She held a small package tight to her chest and continued walking.
Behind her she heard him following. ”Yeah, but I'm transferring to Himekaizen this autumn, so I hope to see more of you later.”
Around them heads turned as they passed scattered groups with club members, and she suddenly felt very self-aware. There were even a few cat-calls flying through the air, but they were good natured as if they were wishing her good luck.
'I'm not nice and friendly like Kyoko. I'm not beautiful like Kuri, so why are they treating me so kindly?' ”Transferring? But Irishima is so close. Why?”
”To be closer to you,” Takado-san said, and she could almost hear him grinning.