Chapter 5: Ch-5 Crosswalk
"You're interested in Ayaka-senpai, aren't you? Kei-chan always liked older women."
I guess my sister knew that. But it really annoys me when she hits the nail on the head like that. I wanted to strike back a little.
"Even if you introduce me to a married woman, won't it cause problems for Ayaka-san?"
The moment I said it, I realized that I had made a mistake. In reality, I did want to meet Ayaka-san. What was I doing, scoring an own goal like that? I silently cursed myself. But luckily, my fears were unfounded.
"Well, I don't expect anything to happen between Ayaka-senpai and Kei-chan. Ayaka-senpai was an only child, so she might think of Kei-chan as a younger brother. It might be fun for her to talk to you."
I wasn't thrilled about the younger brother comment, but there was no doubt that I would welcome the chance to meet her.
"Well, if that's what you think, big sister..."
Contrary to my excitement, I pretended to reluctantly agree.
"Then I'll contact Ayaka-senpai and send her a message."
About three days later, I received a call from my sister.
"I told Ayaka-senpai about Kei-chan. By the way, she'll be on duty at the crosswalk tomorrow morning. She'll be there from 7:30 to 8:00. I hope it goes well..."
What did she mean by 'I hope it goes well'?
I felt a little uneasy at her choice of words, but that feeling was quickly replaced by excitement at the thought of meeting Ayaka.
No need to rush to college tomorrow. Ayaka-san gets off at 8:00. Maybe I could talk to her for a bit...
I couldn't sleep that night. I usually slept like a rock until about 7:00 in the morning, but that day I woke up at 5:00 in the morning.
I washed my face, shaved, and carefully combed my hair. After breakfast, I brushed my teeth thoroughly to make sure my breath was fresh.
The most important thing was my outfit. Anything too casual or flashy was out of the question. Ayaka-san was a sophisticated woman from a good family, so I had to dress accordingly.
Since the weather was warm, I wore a hoodie over a simple, tasteful t-shirt, slim-fit jeans, and regular sneakers. I added the shoulder bag I usually carried to school.
Finally, I sprayed myself evenly with deodorant.
I studied my reflection in the mirror at the entrance and practiced how I would greet her. A sullen expression was out of the question, a grin made me look sleazy, and a big smile felt creepy. After much deliberation, I decided that a natural, friendly smile would be best.
As I looked at my reflection, I felt a surge of confidence. I didn't look bad.
I sat by the entrance and watched the clock. It would take about six to seven minutes to walk from my house to the crosswalk on the national highway.
Leaving at 7:50 would be perfect. As soon as the second hand reached 50 minutes, I left without hesitation. My heart was pounding and I ended up walking faster than usual.
What if Ayaka-san decided to leave early today?
The thought made me uneasy, but when I turned the corner and saw the crosswalk, I felt relief. Ayaka was standing there.
She was wearing her usual tight pants. I looked at my watch - it was 7:56. There were no more kids around.
With her usual cheerful smile, she stood at the crosswalk, waiting.