Delinquent's Crescendo

Chapter 17: Promised Date

[Ao Pov]

I tapped my foot meticulously, waiting for Kanade-chan to leave her room. The door to her room opened, and she stared at me, kind of jumping in shock.

"Ao-san, why are you here?" She asks

I looked at her and squinted my eyes. "Kanade-chan, you promised me we'd go out today, and you were late." I mention

Kanade-chan gazed at her phone and then at me. "I'm thirty minutes early." She said, confused as to why I would say she was late, "Anyway, we can go in a moment." I watched as she walked over to Banchou's room, and she pulled out a key, unlocking the door.

"Why do you have a key?" I ask

Kanade-chan shrugged. "I was given it."

"Why?"

"Because Banchou had a spare..." She says

I clenched my fist and tried to hide my emotions. I didn't want her to know I was upset. "Why are you unlocking the door?" I question

"I borrowed something and want to return it also because I wanted to take a look at something. It'll only be a moment before Banchou isn't home right now since she went out to get a few things." Kanade-chan explained

"Oh, so she had stuff to do?" I laugh

I don't know what I expected someone like her to do after class; honestly, she seems like someone who would only cause trouble, but I guess I was wrong. She does have a life.

I watched as Kanade-chan disappeared into the room, and about two minutes later she came out.

"What did you look at?" I ask softly.

"The desk in her bedroom," she calmly said.

*she's been in her bedroom!?*

"Ao-san?" Kanade-chan said in a moderate tone to get my attention, "Let's go!" She said this before grabbing my hand and dragging me along.

I felt my face heat up from her gentle touch. "You really wanted to hold my hand, right?" I question

Kanade-chan looked at me funny and said, "No." She softly said it with no thought as to why she said no.

"You seemed distracted today..." I'm trying to spark some conversation with her.

"I was texting Banchou to see when she needs me to model for her next so she can get work done," Kanade-chan told me.

*what!?*

"What does she do?"

"Oh, she's a fashion designer; didn't you already know that?" Kanade-chan asks

"Possibly... I don't really care," I say.

"You don't have to!" Kanade-chan cheerfully said she seemingly didn't notice my attitude or didn't care; nonetheless, she was pretty much oblivious to my feelings.

"Did you want to hang out with Banchou instead of me today?" I question

Kanade-chan looked at me. "Not really," she told me, "but next time I'm going with her!" She said it in a moderate tone.

She wanted to be fair to both of us, but part of me is glad that I get to see her first and not Banchou because I feel like I'm winning.

"Ao-san, why is your face so serious?" I smiled at her, immediately showing her a soft side of myself. She seemed perplexed by me. "Ao-san, have you eaten?" She asked

"Ah, no..." I told her, "I've been drawing..."

"Still? You should take a break!"

"Yeah, if only I could..." I reply