#312

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The usual cityscape also appears to change slightly depending on the situation you find yourself in.

Whether intentionally skipping school, avoiding tasks that need to be finished, or faking illness to skip club activities, in such situations, there is a slight sense of excitement and a great feeling of guilt swirling in your chest.

It’s not like I’m intentionally skipping; I’m walking back to school, but for some reason, I can’t shake off these feelings.

“…”

I looked down to where my phone was vibrating on top of my uniform jacket. It had been vibrating vigorously in the left pocket due to notifications.

Perhaps it was because it had been so helpful during the conversation with Nakayama that it was showing even more presence than usual. It continued to vibrate for a while before abruptly stopping.

After a brief silence, it started vibrating again after a few minutes.

There are certainly some curious individuals out there if someone is calling my phone repeatedly.

I grabbed the vibrating phone with my left hand and checked the notifications. It was displaying the name of my cheeky junior.

Ugh… This is annoying.

As I stared at the vibrating phone, I pondered.

Option one: She wants me to buy something on the way back.

Option two: She wants me to come back immediately.

Option three: She feels uncomfortable being alone with Hino-kun and called me.

Now, which one is it?

Pressing the call button felt like asking for the answer to a quiz with a similar feeling of anticipation.

“Why didn’t you answer the first time?!”

“Why did you think I would answer the first time?”

Shiraishi said in a voice full of dissatisfaction as soon as I picked up.

I did tell her I had something to do before coming back, and she probably didn’t even cross-check.

Although I can’t really make excuses since I left her with work to do and came out, I instinctively narrowed my eyes as I held the phone away from my ear.

Juniors are quite troublesome.

It’s probably because we’re only a year apart that I end up forgiving her like an older brother.

Also, the fact that she’s in the same grade as Kaede is probably a big factor.

I put the phone back in its place and waited for Shiraishi’s words.

I didn’t really have any reason to talk on the phone at the moment since I was on my way back to school.

Taking a small sigh and waiting, Shiraishi started speaking, overflowing with dissatisfaction.

“Didn’t you say you were going to visit the first-year classes today? Hino-kun is basically useless, so please come back quickly… Also, I want to drink lemon tea.”

“The second one must be the main reason… Just settle with the tea Hino-kun makes.”

“I need sugar! So please come back quickly. Also, how did it go with Nakayama-senpai?”

“…”

If I were a Kansai person or aspiring comedian, I would definitely be yelling.

<BBX: Apparently, they are known for being loud>

But when asked how it went, it’s complicated.

I looked up at the sky, trying to recall the conversation from just over ten minutes ago.

“It’s a fifty-fifty… Half confidence, half gamble.”

“In that case, it’s a perfectly valid gamble. I’m relieved, so please come back quickly.”

“…”

Do you not know the word ‘acknowledge’?

Operating under the spirit of unpaid service and seeking approval from others may seem contradictory, but I want to demand some improvement in how seniors are treated.

However, if Shiraishi is rushing me, then it must be quite a heavy workload, or maybe the atmosphere with Hino-kun is really uncomfortable.

Before this junior move becomes even more troublesome, I’ll stop by the convenience store on the way back and buy a paper-pack tea.

Of course, I won’t forget to get a receipt, not just the receipt but also a proper receipt.

Though it’s just black tea, it’s still tea.

Please don’t underestimate the financial situation of a high school student who doesn’t work part-time.

Anyway, it seems like the gamble is valid enough.

Coming from Shiraishi, who usually calculates everything, it’s an unexpectedly favourable word to me.

If tomorrow, after school, Nakayama leaves the classroom without waiting, then this plan has failed. And that would be an unforgivable failure.

If that happens, I’ll just have to come up with another plan.

Although I can’t confidently say I’ve always made choices I’m proud of, I have a feeling that the next plan that comes to mind will be a good one.

I expelled the slight unease that remained in my chest along with a breath and headed towards the convenience store to fulfill the cute yet annoying wishes of my junior, holding the disconnected phone in my hand.

I felt like the corner of my mouth unconsciously rose. It’s probably not just my imagination.

Stepping into the first-year student building, which I thought I wouldn’t enter except for class or student council matters, I exchanged words with unfamiliar juniors.

The reactions varied; some were enthusiastic while others refused.

Nevertheless, the reason why many more students promised to cooperate than I imagined was simply because there was a student named Shiraishi who was admired by the first-year students.

As the saying goes, the nail that sticks out gets hammered down. Outstanding students are usually disliked, and exemplary students are often kept at a distance.

However, Shiraishi’s remarkable ability lies in the fact that I didn’t feel that way when watching the conversations among the juniors.

Instilling a good impression is not easy, even if you have calculated words and expressions.

What I did was provide supplementary explanations for the plan after Shiraishi explained the outline. By explaining the details from the senior student council members, it gave the plan credibility, as she said.

Thus, I finished visiting three out of the six classes of first-year students yesterday.

And most importantly, there is today’s after-school session.

The current time is just past 2:50 p.m.

The teacher, who ended the last class a little early, is waiting for the chime to ring, and the classroom already has the same atmosphere as after school.

Where will they go after this? Will they face strict club activities? Among the students engaged in lively conversations, I focused on a particularly eye-catching female student.

The first impression is a gyaru, the second impression is a gyaru, in other words, a gyaru.

…It’s hard to judge.

From the corner of the classroom, I couldn’t hear what she was saying. I hoped to at least see from her actions if she would reject the invitations from her surroundings, but it seems like I’ll have to find out directly after school.

As I focused on one point after tidying up the teaching materials, I heard a voice filled with anger coming from beside me.

“I wonder if you prefer women like her?”

“What misunderstanding are you making, Kirasaka-san… You’re making a misunderstanding deeper than the Mariana Trench.”

“Hmph… What misunderstanding? How can you resist wagging your tail at other girls after refusing cooperation from such a beautiful girl? I wish you could tell me without making me angry.”

Kirasaka, who is currently holding a disgruntled sale, mutters while engrossed in reading at a neatly arranged desk.

Glancing at me briefly, she immediately exhales deeply, a significant misunderstanding escaping her lips.

It’s a misunderstanding, but from her perspective, it’s probably literal. Given that upsetting Kirasaka Rei equals the possibility of social obliteration, I start sweating profusely.

I’m not exactly scared, just a little nervous. And it’s not just her who’s terrifying.

That’s because in front of me was a cute little face that I had been familiar with since childhood, looking at me with eyes that made me feel like I could hear the sound of something dropping.

“Unfortunately, we’re complete opposites, so it’s only natural for you to be interested, isn’t it? Only natural, isn’t it?”

“Don’t repeat that… It’s different, really.”

Before I knew it, Shizuku, who had disappeared from the front seat, was sitting in place of the classmate sitting in front of me, repeating her emphasized words.

The distance between Shizuku and me, as she gazes at me with her hands supporting her cheeks, is about 20 centimeters closer compared to our usual.

For an ordinary guy, this would be a distance that would make them blush and misunderstand, but I maintain my composure, as if to say I won’t run away, and retort, only to see Shizuku blush slightly and sit up.

As she adjusts her hair with her hand comb, I can’t help but smirk triumphantly, only to be struck sharply on the side of my head from my right.

Facing Kirasaka’s gaze, which is now even colder than before, I instinctively straighten up and clear my throat ostentatiously.

“As I explained earlier, among the people we found, she was the most suitable candidate. I don’t even have her contact information.”

In an era where smartphones and social media have explosively proliferated, contact information doesn’t mean email addresses or phone numbers anymore. Adding someone on a messaging app is synonymous with contact information.

To prove my point, I place my smartphone on the table and show them the list of friends with just a few lonely entries.

In addition to the parents, Kaede, Shizuku and Kirasaka, the student council members, and the only ones left are probably Yuuto and Miyashita.

“Look, I’m higher up than you.”

“My chat history is more recent. Don’t get too cocky.”

“It’s okay, you two are having a good competition.”

With a sly grin, Shizuku addresses Kirasaka, who then responds by switching my smartphone screen with her fingertip while still reading her book.

As I listen to their conversation, trying to figure out what line they’re competing on, the clock’s hands reach the top.

The bell rings for the end of class, and the students all stand up and begin to move as they please.

In the midst of that, I check Nakayama’s whereabouts once again and decide not to follow her gaze.

Closing my eyes, I quietly exhale as the classroom’s noise fades away.

“…Let’s think about the next plan.”

Only the three of us, Shizuku, Kirasaka, and I, remain in the classroom.

Yuuto is no longer there; he must have gone home with his friends, and Nakayama, the one we were waiting for, is nowhere to be seen.

It can’t be helped.

It’s my responsibility that I couldn’t tell her something that would pique her interest.

Shizuku gazes sadly at Nakayama’s seat, while Kirasaka quietly closes her book.

We can’t stay in the classroom forever.

We have to either find new editing candidates or rethink the plan and discuss it with Hino-kun and Shiraishi.

And if we’re back to square one, I have to go and tell the first-year students who offered to provide videos that we no longer need them.

There’s a lot to do, and I can’t even afford to waste time feeling sorry for myself.

Picking up my packed belongings, I stand up and address the two who have been waiting for me.

“We’ll have to rethink the plan again… Are you two going to the student council room today as well?”

“Yes… But, are you sure it’s okay? Maybe if we discuss it with everyone in the student council room, we might come up with a good idea?”

“That might be true, but if that’s the case, the executive committee won’t be necessary anymore. I’ll do what I can.”

I’m not exactly being pessimistic.

I can perceive reality much more positively than I had imagined. Maybe I just don’t have the luxury of thinking negatively before considering the next steps.

But it’s undeniable that it’s working in my favour right now.

For today, I bid farewell to the two and head to the executive committee as soon as possible.

Before I start walking, I turn around, and before I can open my mouth, the classroom door opens with a loud noise.

“You’re late! How long are you going to make me wait in the hallway?”

“…”

Emerging from the front door of the classroom, Nakayama shoots a sharp glance and exhales loudly, standing confidently with arms crossed in front of her chest. For some reason, her stance felt slightly majestic.

It’s probably just my imagination, undoubtedly. However, there’s only one reason she would appear in this place.

“Alright, I’ll help you.”

Nakayama, sporting a mischievous grin, declared. Internally, there’s undoubtedly some ulterior motive.

Perhaps something in the conditions I presented struck a chord with her.

But right now, that doesn’t matter.

Lower the tension, then raise it dramatically.

To Nakayama, who provided an entrance akin to something out of an anime or light novel, I inadvertently blurt out my true feelings.

“No… I said I’d wait in the classroom!”

In response to my candid remark, Nakayama tilts her head slightly in a puzzled manner. Then, from just behind me, two female students let out a small laugh, relieved.

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Archived Comments

Mirilu (on 2024-03-02 16:30:53):

Oh, the misunderstanding deepens.

Yeah, form their perspective, their crush just pushed them away and went for a new girl instead. I get his reasoning for wanting to accomplish something by himself but if he has to rely on the help of a third party once again, was there a point in pushing Kirasaka and Shizuku away in the first place?