Chapter 34: Akeno, Gomen ne (Patreon)

Okay, here is the translation for this final segment:

With club activities cancelled unexpectedly, Hanakain Fubuki had the rare experience of being part of the "go-home club" for the day.

Heading home before 3 PM – this was truly a first since transferring to Kuoh Academy.

How did that saying go again? He was ditching the potential million-yen-a-month Hanakain family agent role for unstable, daily-pay overtime work that often lasted until 7 or 8 PM. It was pretty absurd in many ways.

"Going home, going home~"

Lightly humming that little tune all supermarkets play before closing, Hanakain Fubuki left the classroom after saying goodbye to Asia.

But as he exited the school building, crossed the central path, and reached the school gate, an unexpected figure suddenly entered his line of sight.

It was exactly 3 PM, the time when club activities were just beginning and the main wave of the go-home club members were leaving campus. Additionally, some wealthier families had drivers picking up their children, so the foot traffic at the school gate was nearly at its peak for the day, second only to the morning arrival rush.

But that crimson figure stood out—like a single red flower in a field of green, a drop of dark ink on white paper, or the author's favorite daughter uniquely colored in a black-and-white manga—making her instantly recognizable even in the vast crowd.

She leaned sideways against a stone pillar by the gate, arms crossed, watching the students heading home pass by one after another with an indifferent gaze. Though only a very short distance separated them, it felt as though an invisible, solid barrier stood before her, deterring anyone who might muster the courage to approach and strike up a conversation.

Rias?

Hanakain Fubuki couldn't help but raise an eyebrow curiously.

Just two minutes ago, Akeno had messaged him saying Rias was unwell today, hence the cancellation of club activities. Although Asia's account later clarified it wasn't a physical illness but rather something weighing on her mind, her appearance here at this moment… surely couldn't be a coincidence?

As if sensing the familiar gaze from nearby, the red-haired girl, who had been standing motionless and lost in thought, suddenly stirred slightly.

Her eyelashes fluttered as she blinked, returning to the present. She looked back in the direction of the gaze, and the moment she recognized the boy in the crowd, the ice seemed to melt instantly on her stunningly beautiful face, like a frozen rose thawing. A gentle smile bloomed, as if spring had returned to the earth.

Then, she raised her hand and waved towards him.

?

A question mark slowly formed above Hanakain Fubuki's head.

Nevertheless, he walked over.

"What are you doing out here at the school gate alone? Akeno just messaged me saying you weren't feeling well, Rias. Are you okay?"

"Mm… Actually, it's nothing serious. Physically, I'm fine. It's mainly just… something on my mind…"

Rias pressed her lips together slightly, then changed the subject.

"More importantly, Fubuki, do you have other plans today or are you in a hurry to get back?"

"No, I'm good. Why?"

Being in a hurry was out of the question. Since club activities were cancelled, he was already heading home two hours earlier than usual, leaving him with plenty of time.

As if waiting for precisely those words, a joyful smile instantly spread across the red-haired girl's face upon hearing his reply.

"Perfect. Then come take a walk with me."

With that, she proactively reached out and took the boy's hand.

Huh?

The question mark above Hanakain Fubuki's head grew significantly larger.

Okay, the request to walk together itself wasn't strange. The only issue was Rias, being one of Kuoh Academy's top two most popular beauties, the unattainable flower—was openly holding hands with him at the school gate during dismissal time perhaps a bit too… explosive?

Single guys might sound like dogs in slang, but they were still living, breathing people. Setting off such blatant relationship flashbangs in public like this…

Sure enough, as their hands met and fingers intertwined, the previously bustling school gate fell instantly silent.

The spot where they stood became the sole focus of nearly every gaze.

"Ara, it does seem a little…"

Noticing the strange shift in the surrounding atmosphere, Rias stuck her tongue out playfully at the boy.

Then, she delivered a line straight out of a youthful romance drama, like a runaway heroine.

"We're gonna have to run for it now~!"

Saying this, she took the lead, darting forward through the crowd, pulling Hanakain Fubuki, who was pretending to admire the scenery, along behind her.

The very next moment after they burst out of the dismissal crowd, overwhelming wolf-howls finally erupted behind them, the depth of their sorrow as heavy as a choir singing "Fuyu no Hana."

However, that was no longer within Hanakain Fubuki's scope of consideration.

Soon, as the two quickly moved away from the school gate, the sorrowful howls behind them faded with the increasing distance. By the time they stopped again, they were on the student street near the school.

"Huff… huff… Haha, F-Fubuki, did you notice just now…? The expressions on everyone else's faces, it was too funny…"

The short run inevitably left Rias breathless. She stood on the sidewalk, bending over with her hands on her knees, catching her breath while letting out intermittent, bell-like laughter.

"Yeah, yeah~ Of course, I saw."

Hanakain Fubuki gently patted her back to help her catch her breath.

"But if we were just going for a walk, was such a dramatic method really necessary?"

"Well, how should I put it? I guess I didn't think it through properly for a moment. Sorry, sorry."

Having caught her breath somewhat, Rias straightened up and took the boy's hand again.

"Okay, let's keep walking."

"Oh."

Because school had just let out, and the two had run all the way here, the main wave of students hadn't yet reached the student street. It was still quite deserted.

After walking a short distance, Hanakain Fubuki initiated the conversation.

"I asked Asia. She said you seemed to have something on your mind these past couple of days."

"Yeah, just a little."

Rias pursed her lips, seemingly hesitant.

"Speaking of which, there's a question I wanted to ask. About the promise you made before, Fubuki… I mean, regarding me, Akeno, and the others. Does it still count?"

"Which promise?"

"The one where you said you'd come save us if we were ever in danger, or something like that…"

"It counts. Why? Is someone targeting you?"

Hanakain Fubuki looked puzzled.

In his view, simply being targeted wasn't something that should cause Rias such deep-seated worry. If someone like that appeared, they could just tell everyone, like with the Fallen Angel incident before, find the person, and blast them away. Problem solved.

"Mm, sort of, I guess. But not targeted in that sense…"

Rias trailed off, seeming hesitant to continue.

"If I said right now that I need your help, Fubuki, would you be willing?"

"Of course, as long as it's something I can do."

The boy's answer was quite simple and direct.

"Mmm~ Since you put it that way, Fubuki…"

Somehow, as they talked, Rias's tone became increasingly hesitant, her steps slowing down bit by bit until she stopped completely.

"This is it. We're here."

"Huh?"

Hanakain Fubuki followed the girl's gaze and looked up.

Without realizing it, they had walked right up to the entrance of a love hotel.