#263

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Hidden feelings turn into words, gaining weight and significance.

What Kirasaka said became the most impactful phrase of our school trip for me.

Her words were even more shocking than Miyashita’s confession.

We returned from our hike, and the last breakfast of the school trip began. All students gathered in the large dining hall, each taking a seat wherever they pleased.

I also found a seat near the edge of the room, and the gazes of those around me were drawn my way.

“That’s the Tomato guy…”

The whispers and snickers of students chatting privately reached my ears. Don’t they know the rule about keeping private conversations private? Private words quickly turn into offensive ones the moment they’re not private, so they should be careful.

Ignoring the looks from those around me, I sat down and started my breakfast. I was confident that nobody would come near this seat, but just as I thought that, a figure approached and appeared at the edge of my vision.

“Good morning, Minato-kun.”

“Morning, Shizuku.”

During the incident with Miyashita, Shizuku had been inside, monitoring the other female students, and now she greeted me with a smile.

After replying, I shifted my chair a little to the side.

“Excuse me.” With that, Shizuku took a seat next to me.

“So, how did it go with Miyashita?”

“…”

She muttered in a low voice, and turned her inquisitive gaze towards me. She had helped, so it was only natural that she needed an explanation.

However, her words triggered a playback of the scene after Miyashita and Yuuto’s matter had been resolved in my mind.

Should I even bother explaining about Kirasaka?

These two tend to bicker over everything, and it could turn into a big hassle.

I decided to remove unnecessary information and provide an explanation for the matter. I explained that Miyashita had confessed and that Yuuto was still affected by the incident with Shizuku.

Even so, Miyashita declared that she wouldn’t give up, and Shizuku, after hearing the story, couldn’t help but smile.

There must have been aspects of Miyashita’s actions that Shizuku could relate to. Understanding someone’s feelings allows you to comprehend the difficulty and hardship they are facing.

Shizuku breathed a small sigh of relief as she began to eat the breakfast she had brought. Her various emotions were overshadowed by the cheerful chatter of the other students in the dining hall.

She had taken her breakfast and occasionally glanced in my direction, her small mouth munching on a piece of bread as she smiled.

Even after witnessing yesterday’s series of events, Shizuku remained unchanged. The strength of long-lasting relationships was genuinely reassuring.

Despite the curious gazes from the people around us, she didn’t appear to be affected in the least.

The two of us peacefully ate our breakfast side by side, and time passed. The schedule for the day included a group excursion to sightsee and some time allocated for buying souvenirs.

We would have lunch, and then it was off to the airport to catch the flight back to Tokyo. Time was slipping away rapidly.

Indeed, many events had unfolded during this trip. However, if someone were to ask me if this school trip was enjoyable, I couldn’t confidently answer ‘yes’.

Moreover, the image of a scene from just a while ago lingered in my mind – Kirasaka’s words and her boldness.

Her expression and determination at that moment indicated that she was pursuing something seriously, not just making jokes.

Naturally, I anticipated that her actions or words would bring some changes, which led to one concern…

“Still sticking together, I see.”

Just as I was pondering this, the person I least wanted to meet appeared behind us, gracefully and coolly addressing me.

Kirasaka had changed from her early morning casual attire into her school uniform, looking her usual composed, cool-headed self.

To be honest, her coolness was overwhelming, to the point that my heart seemed to have been pumping cold blood. Cold sweat trickled down my back, and I was on the verge of accidentally coughing up the soup I had just sipped.

“Are you okay?”

Worried, Shizuku tapped my back and called out to me.

After telling her I was okay, I turned around to see Kirasaka standing there, her eyes were still strong and cold.

Did I do something wrong?

I noticed her intense gaze and then followed her line of sight to my shoulder, where I felt Shizuku’s hand.

“Shinra-kun, I believe I told you something.”

“What do you mean?”

There are so many things she had said, I don’t know what exactly she’s referring to. When I asked her, she let out a sigh and muttered.

“I told you I wouldn’t let you be taken by anyone, and that includes your childhood friend here.”

Kirasaka grabber my arm as she sat down on the seat next of me opposite to Shizuku.

My body leaned heavily as she pulled me towards herself.

“What!? You can’t just say that Minato-kun is yours!”

On the other side of the table, Shizuku was equally fierce, pulling me back in her direction.

Wow, is this what youth is about? …What an annoying situation to be in.

The only people who were laughing out loud at this situation are the ones who have a few screws loose in their heads. My arms were starting to hurt and the onlookers’ curious stares only added to the discomfort.

Maybe it’s because of my actions the other day, and the general impression I’ve been creating, the situation is getting increasingly uncomfortable.

I found some relief in the fact that Yuuto and Miyashita had managed to spend their time without creating complex situations during this trip.

The actions I took, and the trust I lost, had a purpose. That alone was worth enough to have me participating in the event.

What can I do when I’m torn between feeling like a saint or something else? I wonder what kind of stories people will turn this school trip into when they recount it in the future.

Will they embellish it with tales of heroic deeds, or add a touch of bittersweet romance? As for me, I’ll season it with a dash of irony.

As I bought a Shisa-inspired doll and Okinawan soba to give to Kaede, I couldn’t help but think about how my perception had changed during this journey. I’ve been seen as an intruder meddling in the lives of Yuuto, Shizuku, and Kirasaka, but it seems that this school trip has shifted that perception.

I’ve earned the peculiar nickname, ‘Tomato Guy’. A tomato guy with twisted personality. And even the farmers are impressed with this tomato.

While it’s not exactly a compliment, I don’t mind it; it’s better than trying too hard to fit in with the top caste.

Still, I can’t help but feel a sense of gratitude towards the four students who accompanied me on this shopping adventure, even though I wasn’t buying anything myself.

Shizuku, Kirasaka, Yuuto, and Miyashita.

They seem like a group of students who don’t feel the need to belong to a particular circle, and I wonder if that’s a good thing.

As I received my change and walked back to our group, I joined the line formed by students all wearing the same school uniform. Unexpectedly, Kirasaka posed a direct question.

“What’s your impression of this school trip that suddenly started with the path of you being hated?”

“…”

I’m used to her straightforward way of asking questions. It’s classic Kirasaka. Shizuku and Yuuto greeted the question with wry smiles, while Kirasaka’s expression held a hint of apology.

…If I were to be happy or sad about her every comment, I wouldn’t be able to survive. So, if she dares ask her questions in her typical way, Minato-kun will reply in his own way too.

I replied with a slight upturn of my lips, a combination of a sigh and a wry smile, and spoke in a soft voice to wrap up the trip.

“…I definitely want to participate individually next time.”

I truly felt that from the bottom of my heart. Okinawa… it was, without a doubt, an incredible place.

Being able to travel freely and without any reservations would have allowed for many more precious experiences. Hopefully, the next time I come; it will be as a solo traveller.

I won’t forget how the sky above was an intense shade of blue, ironically contrasting my own feelings.

“With that in mind, I’ve already made reservations for another night at the hotel.”

“Could you please elaborate on the ‘with that in mind’ part?”

And so, we might have resolved the unsolvable issue on this trip.

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