Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093075629868223/episodes/16818792436744197202
“So, we put this formula here…”
“…I see.”
The usual class ended as usual, and outside, the sky was already beginning to glow with the crimson light of sunset.
In a sparsely populated classroom, the sound of pens scratching echoed.
Amidst this, I quietly looked down at the familiar textbook and thought for a moment.
(But, well…)
I glanced briefly across the desk.
There sat a girl with peach-colored hair, glowing in the sunset light.
Her well-defined features held an air of innocence, her eyes clear and transparent.
She was undeniably beautiful, different from Yuzuki, Shiori-san, or Kirishima.
Elegant and delicate, she seemed fragile, as if she might break if touched.
“Thank you, Irie-senpai.”
──Sakurazaka Aira.
A junior from the first year class, whom I met during the previous forest school trip.
(It wasn’t like I was trying to expand my social circle… but I never imagined I’d end up tutoring a junior.)
And such a beauty at that.
Her features were so flawless, it wouldn’t be surprising if the school’s whispered ‘Three Great Beauties’ became the ‘Four Great Beauties’.
No doubt, from the boys’ perspective, my position must be the object of envy.
(Even though we chat online, it’s still weird… Well, I hear she also hang out with Yuzuki pretty often, so I figured we’d probably become friends eventually.)
The world really is unpredictable.
As I was pondering that—
“…Irie-senpai, you’re really good at teaching, aren’t you?”
Sakurazaka suddenly said that.
“Is that so?”
“Yes. You summarize the key points clearly and explain difficult parts in a way that’s easy to remember.”
Hmm, is that so?
Even though I’m the one doing it, I don’t really notice.
Especially since I don’t consciously think, “Hey, pay attention here!” or anything like that.
Well, if I had to guess…
“Maybe it’s because I teach Yuzuki quite often.”
“You mean Minase-senpai?”
“Yeah, that one wants to be a teacher. So I end up teaching her stuff during tests and such.”
Still, her grades have been steadily improving, so the day I’m no longer needed is probably near.
Hm… I wonder why, but it feels a little lonely.
“Hehe, I thought this during the forest school trip too, but you two really are close, aren’t you?”
“We’re childhood friends, after all… Well, I’ve never seen other childhood friends, so my benchmark is probably questionable.”
“From my perspective, even among childhood friends, I think you two are especially close? When it comes to the opposite sex, the way you think and interact changes more and more as you grow up.”
Differences in values, changes in how you play, how you see each other.
It’s true, the older you get, the more differences emerge.
But—
“Yuzuki is easy to get along with.”
“That’s true.”
Yuzuki treats everyone the same, without distinction.
No matter how much time passes, no matter how values change, she talks to you at the same level.
That’s why, surely. Even if someone else were my childhood friend instead of me, I think we’d still be close.
“But I feel like it’s not just that.”
Sakurazaka set down her pen, a slight smile touching her lips.
“I feel like Irie-senpai also sees people as ‘that person.’ Regardless of appearance or status, he truly sees the individual… That’s why, strangely, he gives off a sense of security. Surely, Minase-senpai seems close to him because Irie-senpai is like that, don’t you think?”
“…What’s this, the ‘kill me with compliments’ turn?”
“N-no, that’s not it at all!?”
“Still, as a reward for saying something nice, here’s a candy.”
“…Why is that? Just one year apart, and I already see glimpses of how fiercely you treat me like a child.”
Having juniors is nice… You often see scenes in manga where seniors spoil their juniors, and I totally get that feeling now.
“(I only said it because I thought so too…)”
Sakurazaka, having taken the candy, mutters under her breath.
Even if it is the library where quiet is required, I wish she’d speak a bit louder—unless it’s gossip.
“Ah, right. Next time you don’t understand something in class, you should ask Yuzuki for help, okay? She wants to be a teacher, and Sakurazaka, it’s probably better with someone of the same gender, right?”
“Why? Ah, no… it’s not that I dislike Mizuse-senpai or anything…”
“Well, yeah…”
I glanced toward the far end of the library.
Few people lingered in this space after school. Still, a few were present—
‘That girl is super cute… a first-year, maybe?’
‘Just the two of them alone in the library… so romantic.’
“I wonder if they’re actually dating?”
Precisely because it was quiet, even low voices carried.
As expected, though I’d anticipated it… being alone with someone of the opposite sex easily invites misunderstandings.
“That’s the kind of impression people get.”
“I-I see… I’ll do that then.”
Perhaps because she heard the voices, Sakurazaka quietly agreed.
I guess she couldn’t accept the misunderstanding that we were dating… though it stung a little.
“It would cause trouble for Irie-senpai, after all.”
“Huh? I thought I was worrying about Sakurazaka right now.”
“M-me…?”
“Well, obviously? Sakurazaka might have someone she likes too.”
Even if she didn’t, with her looks and that gentle, reserved personality…
She’d be popular. This misunderstanding could become a shackle if she did find someone.
Even I wouldn’t want to get in the way of a junior’s love life.
“(W-Well, I don’t mind the misunderstanding… but I feel bad for Minase-senpai…!)”
“Hm?”
“N-nothing at all!”
Sakurazaka looked down at her notebook, seeming flustered.
A faint blush spread across her adorable cheeks—
“Irie-senpai, your hand’s stopped! You have to keep moving, time’s limited!!!”
“…Hmm.”
I don’t need to move my hand.
That’s what I thought.
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