Chapter 33: Question Raised

Chapter 33 - Question RaisedHaruma's eyes were wide, his head still resting against Ayane's back. In a swift motion he moved forward sitting straight, his voice trembling slightly, "I'm sorry... it wasn't my fault," Ayane slightly glanced over her shoulder, "Get down, we've arrived!" her tone, soft yet firm. Haruma turned to his side and saw a stationary shop beside them. Haruma stepped off the bicycle, standing still for a second before turning to face the stationary store in front of him. Ayane parked her bicycle with a practised ease and without a word she headed towards the entrance of the store. Haruma followed her with his hands tucked in his pockets, his steps curious. The moment he stepped inside the stationary his eyes widened in awe. The store was lined up with towering shelves, each packed with books that stretched endlessly along the walls, with a few customers searching for books and some waiting on the counter. Ayane walked forward, her eyes scanning the shelves with quiet determination as she searched for the book she was looking for. Haruma was following her with slow steps, his eyes shifting from one corner to another, unable to hide his fascination. Finally he stopped and stood behind Ayane, who remained focused on finding her book from one of the shelves. "This place is huge." Haruma said with his voice filled with awe, his gaze still darting around the corner of the store. Ayane let out a small sigh, "Can you please stand in silence?" her tone was laced with irritation. Haruma gave a slow nod, and his eyes kept wandering around the endless shelves darting around the store. Then, something caught his attention, his gaze locked on a particular book tucked neatly in one of the shelves. "I'll be right back," Haruma muttered more to him than Ayane, before walking away, while Ayane remained focused on his task. Reaching the shelf, Haruma carefully pulled that book off the shelf. It was a physiological book about the human brain and labyrinth of thought. Haruma flipped through its pages, his eyes scanning the content with growing intrigue. Suddenly, he flashed a smile and held the book in his hands, turning around, he bagan walking back towards Ayane. As he approached her his footsteps instinctively slowed, as he saw her standing near a shelf, holding a fantasy romance novel, which she was reading with a warm and calm smile. For a moment Haruma simply watched her, seeing her being so calm, smiling purely, a smile appeared on Haruma's face too. He then walked and stood just behind her. "Hmm, a love story!" Haruma teased, startling Ayane who snapped the book shut, and with her cheeks flushed she hastily returned it to the shelf, her hands fumbling slightly. Once placing it back, she coughed awkwardly and began adjusting her hair, as if trying to regain her composure. With a smile on his face, Haruma was standing just behind her with his arms causally folded back. "So, you like romantic fantasy huh?" Haruma asked in a playful tone. Ayane shot him a sharp gaze over her shoulder, her expressions a mix of annoyance and irritation, "It's none of your business." She said in a sharp tone. Haruma, maintaining his smile, asked, "Alright, but aren't you gonna buy it?" Ayane's eyes narrowed sharply, "And again, It's none of your business!" Haruma's smile remained unchanged, as said, "Alright, if you have bought what you were looking for, then can we go?" Ayane with a sharp flick of her hair turned her face away, "Hmph" she huffed before beginning walking away. Haruma remained standing, giggling in a hushed tone... Ayane was now on the counter with her book in the process of billing. Just then Haruma came and stood next to her. "I would like to buy these two books please." He said at the counter With a slow turn of her head Ayane saw Haruma with two books placed before him on the counter. Seeing the books her eyes began widening, because one was the psychological book and the other was the same romance novel she was reading earlier. Her expressions shifted to one of anger, "What!" she exclaimed, and quickly slammed her hand on top of that romance novel. Haruma quickly held the sides of his books, not allowing her to pick it up or move. Ayane was desperately trying to move the book but Haruma's grip was too tight. "What are you doing?" Haruma asked firmly, protecting his books. "Why do you have this novel!" she snapped in fury. "Because I wanna read it!" He responded in an urgent tone. "I don't want you to read it!" she snapped firmly, trying to move the book. "Excuse me!" a soft male voice interrupted them. looking at the voice Haruma and Ayane saw the counter boy looking at them with an awkward smile. As Haruma found Ayane distracted, in one swift motion he made the free from Ayane hold and extends to the counter boy saying, "I'll have these two" Initially with a hesitant smile, the counter boy beamed with joyous smile and accept the book saying, "Thank you, sir" As the counter began its billing process Haruma slightly side eyed Ayane who was staring at her, boiling with fury. "Why you..." Ayane muttered with fury and leaned at Haruma, "Why did you buy that book!" she muttered in a furious tone. Haruma turned his head to her and said, "It's none of your business!" His tone, polite and playful. Staring at Haruma with sharp narrowed eyes, Ayane with a sharp flick of her hair turned her face away, "Hmph" she huffed again. Haruma again started giggling in silence before looking ahead... They were again on the road, making their way back towards the house. Both were in silence, sitting in the same way they were sitting before. Just then Ayane's phone started ringing, she stopped her bicycle and quickly pulled out her phone and answered the call placing it on her ears. "Hey Rina, have you found the correct answer?" Ayane said in an urgent voice, before going in a brief silence, listening to her friend. After a brief pause, she spoke up "Alright, I'll wait, we just can't ignore this, it's a very important topic, make sure you figure this out and once you do, let me know." With that she ends the call and slips the phone back to her pocket and begins pedaling. There was silence between as they were pedaling into the silent street. "You seemed very concerned about your studies" Haruma broke the silence, his gaze fixed on the vast sky. Ayane was pedaling in silence before she spoke up, "Yes... that's what every teenager does!" Haruma let out a faint smile, "Well I don't care about my studies" he said in a soft tone. "That's what every stupid kid does." She replied with softness. Haruma didn't respond and kept smiling, gazing at the sky. "Why is football so important to you?" Ayane asked, causing Haruma's smile to slowly fade.