Keys To My Heart [Hanako-kun x Reader]

[Chapter 16] Donuts

[Author's Note]

Guess who's back after over a year—!

Halfway through this chapter, I switch between using the dialogue of the characters in the anime to using the manga translations instead. So if dialogue sounds different in comparison to the anime, that's why.

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[Your Name]'s POV:

A couple of days had passed since all of us had visited the 4 O'Clock Library and needless to say, the awkward tension between the four of us was very obvious despite the fact we would continue on with our normal activities and act as though nothing had happened. Yashiro was clearly distancing herself, I noticed that before class would start she would hardly come up to me and often excused herself after class with Aoi following closely behind her. I understand how she feels, but it stings just a bit considering the fact that she was basically avoiding me.

On the other hand, Kou was trying his best to act like how he usually would around me, but he was trying a little too hard. As sweet as his intentions are, it feels forced rather than genuine. It's like he's only acting this way just to please me rather than thinking about how he feels himself. If he really feels that uncomfortable around me, I'd prefer he tell me how he truly felt rather than him putting up an act just to please me.

Currently, the pair of them were cleaning in the girl's restroom, myself included as I wiped the mirrors above the sinks. Through the reflection of the mirror, I could see Hanako humming to himself while staring at Yashiro intensely.

"Hey, Yashiro." He began, eyes narrowing as he placed a hand on his chin, "Don't you think you've been acting weird lately?"

"Huh?" Startled, the cream-headed girl turned to look at the floating apparition before her.

"Hmm?" Kou had also paused what he was doing, looking back at them with a confused expression on his face.

Yashiro began to mop the floors again, turning away from Hanako, "Not really. I'm the same as usual." She replied in an aloof tone.

"Are you sure? You're reactions have been kind of off." Hanako asked again, clearly suspicious as he followed Yashiro around.

In a way, Hanako was right about his suspicions. Usually, Yashiro would complain about how she was practically being held captive and forced to play the role of 'Cinderella', constantly doing chores and cleaning the girls' bathroom daily only for her 'Prince Charming' to never come. However, now she would clean with no hesitation or complaint, not even a single grumble as she silently mopped the floors.

"You don't even grumble while you clean anymore." Hanako pointed out, clinging onto Yashiro from behind.

I turned back to look at them fully, "Yeah Nene-chan, usually you would complain a lot about being on bathroom duty and even beg me to get Hanako-kun to let you off for the day... Now you just come to clean without complaint."

Yashiro turned her head away from us, avoiding mine and Hanako's gaze, "Isn't that a good thing?"

"What? It's boring!" The ghost boy whined, gripping onto Yashiro's shoulders as he tried to look at her face.

Hanako noticed that Yashiro still wouldn't look at him directly, so he placed both hands on either side of her face and sharply turned her head around, forcing Yashiro to look at him. The cream-headed girl let out a strained wail from the sharp movement as I winced, hearing a very audible neck crack.

"Why won't you look at me?!" Hanako exclaimed, practically yelling straight at Yashiro's face.

"Ow, ow, ow! I'll look, I'll look!"