Akari's POV

I headed to the library as soon as the last class was over. I felt a vibration in my bag. I took out my phone and saw a text from Granny. She asked me to buy groceries she listed on the way home. 'I guess I'll go to the library tomorrow. It'll be dark when I get home if I go to the library.

As I was on my way to the grocery store, something covered my mouth and pulled me into an alleyway. The weird-looking guy pinned me against a wall. He was wearing a black mask over his mouth and a matching cap. 'He's definitely suspicious...he's not even letting go of me yet. I've got no choice.'

I prepared to kick him in the shin until he started to talk. "Wa-Wait!! It's me!!"

"Who?"

"THE GUY YOU PUNCHED YESTERDAY!!"

"I don't remember who that was."

He removed his mask, revealing his bruised cheek. "Don't you remember me?!"

"Pfft," I snickered mockingly after seeing his face. "Ahh the loser?"

"Tch... Anyways, because of you I didn't get to go to school today. I just can't show people this bruised face. Although, it doesn't look too injured, it hurts a lot," he complained.

I rolled my eyes, "Is that why you dragged me here to this disgusting alley?" I shook my wrist out of his grip. "You must really care about your looks. Or is it because people only like you for your looks?" I scoffed.

"No, of course not--" He was about to say something until he gave in and said, "The point is....how are you going to pay for this?" He blocked my way.

"Get your sickening face out of my face," I pushed his face away.

"Eh? Are you sure? Cuz if you don't do something about it, I will." He got closer to me and took out his phone as he swiftly took a selfie with me.

"Did you just take a picture of me?!"

"Nahh, it's a picture of us, and you know what I can do with this picture?"

"What?"

"I could spread rumors that we're actually dating-- you wouldn't want unnecessary attention do you? Or I could post this on my social medias making it public. I could also do xxx and xxx you know??"

"W-What?! How could you just take someone else's picture without their permission?"

He grinned and did something with his phone. "So? Make up your mind."

"I could just snatch your phone away from you and delete it or I could use force on you."

'Did I heard a beep sound just now? Must be my imagination.'

"First of all, you can't just snatch it away from me, look at your height. Pfft. Second of all, my phone has a lock. And lastly, I'm not going to delete it until we're even, so you're probably going to use force until I give up. But guess what?" He held his phone screen in front of me.

'He was voice recording the whole thing?'

"S-Since when??"

"Hmm..when you said you were going to use force on me," he chuckled.

I clenched my teeth and tightened my fists. "Tch....what do you want?" I glared at him.

"Okay so--"

'Ah. I still have to go shopping' I suddenly remembered. "But not now. I have to go, you can tell me later," I said as I walked pass him.

"Hey, listen to when people are talking to you," he followed me. I didn't stop walking. I just continued my way to the store.

"I told you I'm busy."

"Come'on don't give me a cold shoulder. You're already a pain in the ass to deal with and I still have to make you pay."

I took a deep breath, "I should be the one saying this. You're the most annoying thing I've ever seen. Just you existence bothers me a lot."

"T-Thing?? I am a human, not a thing!!" He pouted.

As we got in front of the store, I stopped and said, "Will you just take off that cap and mask? I don't wanna walk near a suspicious-looking-creep."

"Eh? You're so mean."

"Unless you want people to take it the wrong way and make them think that you're a stalker following me around." With that, he took both his mask and cap off and put it in his backpack.

"Fine."

"Oh and stop the voice recording if you haven't already, I've already agree to whatever you ask for."

"Ah right." He opened his phone and stopped the recording. I used this chance to try and grab his phone while the phone was unlocked. But I was too late he already close the phone and put it in his pocket. Feeling awkward because of my action, I cleared my throat and turned away. "Hey, just now you were trying to snatch my phone weren't you?"

"Huh? I have no idea what you're talking about." I coughed.

"She's so horrible at lying," he whispered to himself.

"I heard that. And I wasn't lying!"

"Irashaimasen!" The staffs welcomed as both of us entered the store. I took one of the shopping carts and began shopping. I scanned the shopping list. 'Looks like Granny's cooking curry tonight. Hmm..I should get the carrots first.'

"Why are you still here? Care to explain why you're following me?" I asked him as i picked out some fresh carrots.

"I'm bored so I'm just tagging along and the deal is still on," he shrugged. "Running errands? Do you live alone?" He smirked.

"What if I do?"

"Then I could maybe come over and you know..." He winked.

"What? Get your ass kicked?" I strolled over to where the potatoes were next. I asked one of the staffs to put the potatoes I chose in a bag.

"I take it back..." He backed a few steps away from me.

I ignored him as I check the ingredient list again. I grabbed some pack of green beans which were nearby and had to go to another section of the store to get some curry powder.

I walked over to the cashier to pay for the ingredients. After the cashier put all the things in a couple bags, I paid for it and took the bag. I looked up at the sky when I exited out of the store. 'It'll be getting dark soon... I better hurry home.'

"Wahhhh!!!" I turned around and saw him yawning.

"You're still here?" I rolled my eyes.

"Wow, is my presence that low?"

"I thought you left since I didn't hear your complaints anymore."

"Awwn you actually wanted me around didn't you?" He teased and nudged my shoulder with his elbow.

My expressionless face didn't change, "No, I was thinking how peaceful it was...until I heard you yawning. And touch me one more time and I'll kill you."

"Alright, alright. I'll take you home since it's getting dark," he smiled.

"You think you can protect me when you actually keep getting hit by me?" I scoffed.

"I'm just doing this as a gentlemen; why would I want to escort an elephant girl like you home?"

"Huh?! What did you just call me?!"

"An elephant. Although, you may be small, your strength is like an elephant's. Especially your hands they're like an elephant's trunk you know? So strong. Oh my god wait," he gasped, "a-are you even a girl? Oh and the yesterday, I called you an 'akuma' didn't I? Maybe 'elephant girl' suits you more. Plus, it's hilarious!!" He started laughing out loud until I elbowed him in the stomach to shut him up since my hands weren't free.

"Shut up." I glared at him and walked away from him as fast I could.

"Oii~ Wait up!!" He called after me. 'Tch. Me? An elephant? I'm not a girl? That stupid bastard.'

He caught up to me panting heavily, "Hey...you walk so fast; it was hard catching up with you." I didn't say anything and ignored him.

"Ahh!" He tried to start a conversation again."Those bags you're holding, they look heavy. Let me carry them for you."

"No thanks."

"Aww come on!" He tried to take one of the bags.

"I can carry them by myself."

"You should at least do me a favor by letting me carry it, after all you punched my face," he said.

"Wha-" as I was thinking of what to reply, he snatched one of the bags. "Hey!"

"Got it~" I tried to take the bag back but he held it up high so that I won't reach it. 'Ugh, this again...'

I jumped to reach the bags but still couldn't reach it.

"Oho?~ Give up? Come on, get it if you can," he provoked and shook the bag.

"Shut up," I growled and tried to reach for the bag again. He took a few steps back and stick his tongue out.

'He'll have to pay back for taking advantage of my height.' I made my other hand into a fist and started to dash forward him-- but I tripped over a stone.

Before I was about to fell, Ken pulled me towards him and saved me from the fall. I guess he was also surprised and did it by instinct.

Then, he smirked and bent down towards me. I was so startled that I couldn't move. His face got closer and closer to me each second and soon I could feel his breath on my face. His forehead touched mine and he continued gazing into my eyes. "Making a move on me eh? How bold of you," he chuckled.

I didn't know what to reply, I was so stiff that I even forgot to breathe. After a few seconds passed, which felt more like a few hours, he pulled away, with a smirk still on his face.

"I didn't know you would be the first to make a move. I was surprised when you almost fell on me y'know?"

The shock was too much for me that I still couldn't move from the spot. I was speechless.

"Not replying? I'll call this even between us and don't worry I'll delete the picture," he smiled.

He stared at me and continued, "By the way, your face is all red, it's so cute~. I didn't know it'd only take this much to make you blush. Moreover, I didn't expect that an elephant girl like you can make a face like this."

Suddenly I regained my consciousness and started to stuttered in a robotic voice, "Y-Your face is ugly. E-Eww."

I grabbed the other grocery bag from him and ran away in embarrassment. 'Why did I even said that? It sounded so unnatural!!'