Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818622176550308690/episodes/16818622177188432219
It was Monday morning, after the weekend.
I headed to school alone, yawning softly.
April will be over in a few days. I had just become a second-year student, but by this time next month, it would already be midterm exam season.
“…This time, I’ll have to study alone.”
Whenever exam season approached, Renka would kindly help me study.
“If your grades are bad, it’ll be embarrassing for me, your childhood friend” she would say.
But this time, I can’t rely on Renka. At the very least, I have to make sure I don’t fail.
◇◇◇
When I arrived at school, my classmates glanced at me for a moment.
But they quickly returned to their own groups and conversations.
Until now, I had been going to school with Koiuta every morning. Perhaps they found it strange that that was no longer the case, but it wasn’t something that would hold their interest for more than a few days. It seemed that they were already beginning to accept the sight of Renka and me coming to school separately as normal.
“Heya, Ayatacchi ! Morning !”
As I was about to go to my desk, Suzukita san called out to me.
“Good morning, Suzukita san.”
“Say, Ayatacchi. Did you see the new character’s stand-alone illustration for Anfil?”
“Of course. It’s been a while since we’ve seen a character that’s so clearly a classic beauty.”
“Yeah. Ayatacchi, you’re definitely going to like this, right?”
“Ugh…my tastes are completely obvious…”
“Haha, I thought so ! Ayatacchi’s preferences are so easy to read !”
I sat back down at my desk and enjoyed chatting with Suzukita san about Anfil.
…The gaze of my classmates once again turned to me. This time, they kept staring for a while. “After Fujisaki-san, now it’s Suzukita san?” “Ayata kun is surprisingly popular, isn’t he?” I heard whispers that I couldn’t tell if they were compliments or insults.
Then, Hideki, who had apparently finished his club activities and returned, came over to us and said,
“Hey, Akito. Good morning, Suzukita san.”
“Hm, Hideki ! Hey, do you have business with Ayatacchi?”
“Well, something like that. Akito, lend me your ear for a moment.”
“Hm?”
As instructed, I listened to Hideki’s voice.
Hideki leaned close to my ear and said,
“Akito. If you keep cheating around, you’ll upset the princess again.”
“…Huh? What are you talking about…?”
“No, you know…haa. Never mind, forget it.”
With that, Hideki moved away from me and shrugged his shoulders.
What did Hideki mean by that?
Cheating? Princess? …I can’t. I don’t understand at all. Did Hideki suddenly develop a case of middle school delusion?
◇◇◇
After morning homeroom and four periods of class, it’s lunch break.
Today, I head to the cafeteria with a lettuce and tuna sandwich in hand.
My destination was the terrace seats where my childhood friends were waiting…but instead, I headed for the indoor table seats.
When I arrived, Suzukita san had already started eating her curry bread.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Suzukita san.”
“Mmm…ehehe. Ayatacchi, sandwich again today?”
Suzukita san continued eating her curry bread, chewing and swallowing.
Incidentally, as soon as Suzukita san finished her fourth period class, she sprinted to the school store with a speed reminiscent of a 50-meter dash. She has an incredible obsession with curry bread. …Even though she left some the other day. Girls are such mysterious creatures, I think to myself.
“Ayatacchi, you’re a boy, so you should eat more. You’ll get even thinner if you keep this up.”
“It’s better than getting fat, isn’t it? Well, I used to eat more before…”
“Oh, I know about that. It’s Renka chan’s homemade lunch box, right?”
When she said that again, it felt kind of awkward.
I put a bland sandwich in my mouth and said,
“Well, whatever. Anyway, Suzukita san, did you do the Anfil material procurement event? I think the deadline was today.”
“Oh shoot ! Ayatacchi, help me ! !”
“I thought so. Well, I’ll start it up, so please invite me.”
And so, I spent my lunch break with Suzukita san and Anfil.
To be honest, I still miss eating Renka’s home-cooked meals. But I guess this isn’t so bad, I thought to myself.
◇◇◇
After school.
As I stood up to leave, Suzukita san called out to me again.
“Ayatacchi ! Let’s go home !”
A beautiful girl with a girly style waved her hands vigorously. Her beautiful blonde side ponytail swayed like a dog’s tail.
“Hey, Ayatacchi. Thanks for helping out with the event earlier.”
“Sure, but I’ll make you pay me back. You’ll have to help me with the next event.”
“E~hh ! ell, I guess it’s okay. It’s fun doing Anfil with Ayatacchi.”
Suzukita san gave me a dazzling smile. …That was close. I almost fell for her.
Just as I and Suzukita san were about to leave the classroom, Sena, who was supposed to be heading to the swimming club, dashed back.
“Ah, Akito kun ! Sorry for barging in, but can you lend me a thousand yen? Please !”
“…..Sena. First, tell me the reason.”
“I borrowed money from a senior for lunch the other day, but I forgot my wallet ! I’ll definitely pay you back tomorrow, please !”
“You’re borrowing again. Well, whatever.”
I took a thousand-yen bill out of my wallet and handed it to Sena, saying, “Here you go.”
Sena just said, “Thanks ! See you !” and turned around and ran down the hallway.
“…Sena’s still as wild as ever.”
“Fufu, Senarin is funny, isn’t she? She’s cute too.”
After that, we had various conversations with Suzukita san and went home.
…Come to think of it, I didn’t say a word to Renka today.
It feels a little sad, but I guess it’s for the best. My vow to keep my distance from Renka is steadily taking shape.
Renka is probably happy right now that she doesn’t have to talk to me, whom she hates so much.
Thinking about that, I felt a sense of accomplishment.
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Koiuta is supposed to be Renka right?