Chapter XIX: Love is War, Part 2
A month before the earthquake, Graduation is coming up and the students of Class 3-A are inside the classroom for the practice. In the corner, Toshiro, Masashi, and Asahi approaches Kota and tells him that he has the chance to say it to her on graduation day. Toshiro gives some tips to make the flow of events go smoothly. Kota tells them all that he'd already prepared the notes. The adviser comes in and tells them that Class 3-A will have a separate graduation from the other classes. All students complains about it although it is just to observe social distancing since their auditorium doesn't have the capacity for the whole Class 3 students. The teacher then leaves the classroom. While the teacher is away, The three then approach him again and asks him what's the plan. He tells them and the three say that it's impressive but he needs to lose the script. It is better to say it from the heart so he needs to memorize it from the heart.
2 days before the earthquake, they graduated. After that, he then executes the plan which is factored by his friends' advices. Asahi then asks Akiko if she wants to join their hangout. Asahi tells Kota that maybe it would just be nice not put himself in incognito. Kota agrees to it but he's still going to put on the jacket. While taking about a nice anime to watch, Asahi's phone rings and the text is from Akiko. She wants to join since it is her free time. It looks like everything is going into action. Kota expects for something worse to happened and also thinks of the possibilities that will happen on their hangout since it's just the three of them. Kota arrives at the fountain and Asahi is there. They then go to their favorite coffeeshop although the venue would be much different if the earthquake didn't happened. While hanging out in the coffeeshop, Asahi asks Akiko where she is. Even though she is on active status, she doesn't respond. Kota suspects that maybe she bailed out again since she already knew it and might be shy to talk or see him. Asahi tells him to just chill out and goes to YourBook. He is surprised to find that Akiko is with Hanako, Himari and another small girl in a fancy café. Kota's plan is likewise to fail because of this.
Kota knows that location which is just three blocks from their current location but the confusing part is that the name of the place is a year. Asahi says that it's 1987 but Kota says that it's 1999. They fight over the right year and to prove what is the correct year, they soon search it and turns out that Kota has the right answer. After finishing their drinks, they soon rush to the place. Asahi first enters and when Kota enters, he is wearing the hoodie so he takes it off. Akiko is sipping her tea at that time and as Kota takes off his hood, she is in shock and stares at Kota. He and Asahi goes to the table next to them. Asahi notices that they're almost done and says to Kota that this is his chance. When Kota looks at Akiko, he is trembling and his skin turns bright red. Kota feels nervous and doesn't know what to do. A minute later, the four are done and begin to leave. Asahi tells him that he needs to do it now. Kota replies to him that it is embarrassing to pull her out of her friends which is very disrespectful to women. With disappointment, Asahi and Kota then order for lunch.
During their lunch, Kota asks him about the possible places they would go since Asahi had joined in recent hangouts frequently. He tells him that they would go to the mall, or the park. After eating, they soon go to the park. Due to the hot weather, he takes off the jacket and puts it around his waist. Upon arriving at the park, they find nothing so they go to the mall. At the mall, Asahi finds the arcade which includes the same game he plays at home. He buys tokens and plays the game. With a disappointed face looking at Asahi, Kota texts Masashi that the plan failed. Masashi then calls him so he goes to the mall lounge for no distractions. He cheers him up and also tells him that maybe there is still time. He wishes him good luck if they find her again. The call ends and Kota goes back to Asahi. As he is hopeless in executing the plan anymore, Asahi offers him tokens and teaches him how to play it. While dueling Asahi in the game, he also points out that wearing the jacket might be pointless after all.
After the game is almost done, two girls turn up and approach them. The two girls turn out to be Hanako and Himari and watch them. Kota loses and notices them. Asahi is very caught up in the game so he didn't noticed them. Kota tells Asahi that they're here and persuades him to go but Asahi tells him just one more round. After 3 flash rounds, they soon go. They go the bookstore but they're not there. Kota feels hopeless again but when he looks to the jewelry stand, he finds them. Going closer to the stand, Akiko looks at him. He begins to feel nervous as their eyes crossed again. He then gets Asahi but as soon they go to the stand they rush to the mall entrance. As Asahi and Kota arrives at the mall entrance, they're not there. Kota begins to feel hopeless again and suggest that they'll go to the fountain since Akiko will pass there to go back home. They soon go the metal bleachers and take a break. Kota suspects that the girls might be thinking that they are stalking them or either way just coincided with one another. Asahi's phone rings and Masashi appears to be calling. Asahi picks it up and Masashi asks if how's their plan going so far. They both say that it's very disappointing and that maybe another hangout will be planned. Masashi cheers him up and tells him that there will be one day that he'll finally say it to her. He also suggest to go to her house personally to say it. Kota laughs and tells him that he will end up getting bowled over by her mom, or get beaten up by his brother. Hearing this, Asahi and Masashi laughs out loud at this. Dark clouds then begin to cover up the sky. It is about to rain. Given the situation, they need to leave. The call ends and both of them go home. While they are away, Akiko turns up.
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