My Normal Life In Classroom Of The Elite [ COTE X OC ]

Miyake Akito SS: Archery Gloves

I arrived at the mall entrance five minutes before our scheduled meet-up time. It wasn't like me to be early, but I guess I was looking forward to this. As I leaned against the wall, I pulled out my phone and started scrolling, watching the time tick closer to when Kazuki was supposed to show up.

It's strange. I wouldn't have expected to hang out with Kazuki like this a few months ago. When we first got grouped together for that study session, my first impression of him was... mixed. He always seemed like he was half-asleep, his eyes droopy and heavy-lidded, as if he were perpetually on the verge of nodding off. I thought he was the quiet, cool type at first—someone who wouldn't bother talking unless it was necessary. He definitely had that look too. With his messy hair and easygoing smile, he could probably hold his own against the more popular guys in class without even trying.

But then, as I got to know him better, I realized he was nothing like what I'd imagined. Lazy? Sure. But quiet? Absolutely not. If anything, Kazuki was far more talkative—and far more of a clown—than I'd ever guessed.

Right on cue, I spotted him making his way towards me. He was grinning like he'd just heard the funniest joke, and I braced myself for whatever nonsense he was about to spew.

"Kazuki, you're on time," I greeted him plainly.

He smirked, leaning in closer. "Eek, Miyake! You came early! Don't tell me you're treating this like a date and wanted to impress me?"

Before I could even respond, he clasped his hands together and put on a mock bashful expression. "Oh, you're so cute, Miyake! I'm starting to fall for you!"

I grimaced, pushing his face away with a light shove. "Enough with your jokes, Kazuki. Sometimes you go too far," I said flatly. "And even if you were a girl, I wouldn't ever want to date you."

He clutched his chest in fake pain, pretending to be wounded. "Ouch, Miyake! That one hurt," he whined. "You're such a heartbreaker."

I couldn't help but roll my eyes. "Let's just get this over with. I need to find a new pair of archery gloves."

We headed off together, navigating through the mall's weekend crowd. It didn't take long before we found the sporting goods store, a large sign reading Sport Station hanging above the entrance. As soon as we stepped inside, Kazuki's eyes started darting around like a kid in a candy shop.

"Focus," I muttered, grabbing his shoulder to keep him from wandering off. "We're here for gloves, not for you to mess around."

He gave me a cheeky grin. "Relax, I'll help you pick something out. Let's see what they've got."

I sifted through the rack of archery gloves, trying a few on and checking the fit. None of them felt quite right—either too tight or the material was off. Kazuki, of course, was no help. Instead of giving me real advice, he was goofing off as usual.

"Hey, look at me!" he called out from a few feet away.

I glanced over and saw him wearing a pair of oversized baseball gloves, pretending to be a pitcher. "Strike one! Strike two! Miyake's out!" he shouted, mimicking a dramatic wind-up and pitch.

I pinched the bridge of my nose, half exasperated, half amused. "Can you at least pretend to take this seriously?" I asked.

Kazuki put down the gloves with a laugh. "Alright, alright. Let me take a look." He stepped closer, scanning the rack with a more thoughtful expression than I expected.

He pulled out a glove, examining it for a second before handing it to me. "Here, try this one."

I took it from him, raising an eyebrow. "And why this one, exactly? Did you actually put some thought into it, or are you just picking at random?"

Kazuki gave me a sly smile and shrugged. "I chose it randomly. Figured I'd let the god of luck decide," he said with a wave, already turning away and heading towards the checkout.

I watched him walk off, a dry smile forming on my lips. Yeah, of course you'd say that, I thought, but I couldn't help feeling curious. I slipped the glove on, and to my surprise, it fit perfectly. The material felt sturdy yet comfortable, and the dark maroon color matched the shade of my hair almost exactly.

Huh... It's like it was made for me, I realized. I flexed my hand, feeling the snug, secure fit. It was better than any of the others I'd tried.

I looked up, spotting Kazuki a few aisles over, playing around with some workout gear. He was lifting a small dumbbell with an exaggerated grunt, clearly putting on a show for anyone who might be watching.

A small, genuine smile tugged at the corners of my lips. He might act like a fool, but Kazuki's attention to detail was something else. He hadn't chosen the glove at random—I knew that now. He'd taken the time to pick something that matched me, even if he pretended it was just a lucky guess.

I made my way over to him, holding up the glove. "You're not as clueless as you act, you know," I said.

He glanced over, grinning. "Oh? What do you mean?"

I shook my head, slipping the glove off and tucking it under my arm. "Never mind," I muttered, feeling slightly embarrassed for even acknowledging it. "Let's just go pay for this."

Kazuki bounced on his heels, giving me a thumbs-up. "Lead the way, Miyake!"

We made our way to the counter, and as I pulled out my phone, I turned to him. "You know what? I'll treat you to lunch," I said.

Kazuki's eyes lit up. "Really? Why the sudden generosity?"

I shrugged, trying to play it cool. "Consider it a thank-you. Even though you won't admit it, you actually helped."

He puffed out his chest proudly. "Of course! The great Kazuki Yuto always delivers."

I chuckled, shaking my head as we left the store. Yeah, you're a handful, I thought, casting a sidelong glance at him. But I guess I wouldn't have it any other way.