Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/2912051598917319858
“Hey, it’s time to switch seats!”
Shino’s clear, resonant voice cut effortlessly through the buzz of the room.
It had been about an hour since the German class social gathering had started.
The atmosphere, which had been a bit awkward at first, had now completely relaxed, and lively chatter could be heard from all around.
The venue was a student-oriented dining spot near the university.
Rather than a traditional izakaya, it was the kind of place that specialized in private party packages for gatherings like this one, and the food was all quite tasty. On top of that, Shino had checked with the restaurant beforehand and arranged for them to increase the portion sizes in exchange for a non-alcoholic all-you-can-drink plan, so the quantity was more than sufficient.
Should I commend her for her organizational skills, or should I be wary of how smoothly she handles things?
“Alright, alright! Guys, don’t just stick together. Girls, don’t just stick with the same group and feel safe. This is a social gathering, so let’s actually mingle!”
Shino clapped her hands as she went around to each table.
She’s a demure beauty when she’s quiet, but when she’s at it, she’s the life of the party.
“Aizawa san, aren’t you good at organizing things?”
“Did you run the student council in high school or something?”
“Nah, that wasn’t really the student council—she was more like the boss of the cultural festival committee, right?”
Comments like that could be heard from all around.
In fact, if it weren’t for Shino, things probably wouldn’t have gone this smoothly.
At first, the seating was starting to split along gender lines, but Shino forcefully mixed everyone up.
During the introductions, to make sure people didn’t just say their names and where they were from and call it a day, she added a mysterious rule like, “Tell us something delicious you’ve eaten recently before passing it on to the next person.”
It was a silly rule, but precisely because of that, no one hesitated to open up, and it even helped the conversation branch out.
Thanks to that, I was able to talk to guys and girls I’d barely spoken to before without feeling particularly awkward.
“Rintaro, move over a bit.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
When I shifted slightly to the side as she told me to, Shino slid into the seat next to me as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“So, what were you guys talking about over there?”
“Credits. We were saying how hard it seems to pass classes in college.”
“Ah, yeah, that’s true.”
“I was already on the verge of failing right at the time of course registration.”
“I took a class on a whim, but I have to write a short report every time—it’s a total bust. Plus, it doesn’t even count for many credits.”
“That’s awful. It’s not worth it unless you at least get exempted from the test.”
Shino’s arrival didn’t change the topic of conversation.
If anything, she just naturally joined in on the conversation about credits we’d been having until a moment ago.
“If we fail a required course, we’re done for, especially language classes.”
“But it’ll be fine. We’ve got Professor Oosaki on our side.”
“Don’t bring the professor into this. I’m just a regular student taking the class too.”
The conversation was taking a turn for the worse.
“No, just because I’m here doesn’t mean it’s a piece of cake. We still have to study the grammar we cover in class like everyone else.”
“But you can speak the language, right?”
“Being able to speak and getting good grades on tests are two different things.”
I desperately tried to cover my bases.
Then, Shino’s lips curled into a smirk.
“Well, it’s settled then. Let’s hold a German crash course with Rintaro-sensei before the test.”
“Huh, really? That’d be a huge help!”
“Lord Oosaki… have mercy…”
Ignoring my desire to stay out of the spotlight, the conversation kept moving forward.
Plus, Shino—who usually covers for me without making a fuss—was taking the lead in cornering me.
I looked at Shino with a mix of confusion and desperation, but she just clicked her tongue as if to say, “You don’t get it,” then deftly snatched a piece of fried chicken from my plate.
“Those who don’t work shouldn’t eat, Rintaro.”
“That’s not exactly the kind of thing you should say while stealing meat from my plate.”
“Now, now, just listen. In college, it’s important to help each other out.”
Shino popped the fried chicken into her mouth and nodded contentedly.
“People who have past exam questions, people who know the professor’s quirks, people who are good at tracking attendance, people who are good at formatting reports. We pool those resources and work together to get our credits.”
“I get it, but the way you put it…”
“If you have some kind of weapon, it’s a waste not to use it. In Rintaro’s case, it just happens to be German.”
Shino was saying it jokingly, but what she was saying hit the nail on the head.
College is a place of freedom. But precisely because it’s free, you won’t gain anything unless you take the initiative.
The same goes for relationships. If you don’t make an effort to connect with people, those ties can easily snap.
“So what about you, Shino? Our course selections don’t overlap at all, but what are you going to give me instead of past exam questions?”
The girl sitting across from her asked that with a laugh.
Shino placed her hand on her chest with a composed expression.
“Love, young lady.”
“Pfft, I don’t need that~”
“Isn’t that mean!? You get to see this super-gorgeous girl’s smile, you know!?”
“Come to think of it, is it okay to call college students ‘girls’?”
“Ugh…”
“Oh, Aizawa’s down.”
Teasing remarks flew in from all around, and the room was once again filled with laughter.
Thanks to that, I had a little time to think.
If what Shino said was true… maybe even if I laid my German skills bare, it wouldn’t end up like it did in middle school.
“So, how well can you actually speak German, Oosaki?”
“It’s hard to say exactly…”
“Then try introducing yourself—in German.”
“Introduce myself, huh—”
“Come on, Rintaro. Give it your best shot here.”
……You’re just trying to egg me on, you little jerk.
When I glared at Shino, she gave a light laugh and moved her lips without making a sound.
—It’ll—be—fi—ne
I see. So it was all part of Shino’s plan, then.
Well, I’ll give it a shot.
That’s right—if I mess up and things get awkward, I’ll just blame it on Shino.
“…Just a little, okay?”
Resolved, I let out a small breath.
“Ich bin Rintaro Ousaki. Ich habe beschlossen, ein bisschen Mut zu fassen und Deutsch zu sprechen. Ich hoffe, dass ihr mich trotzdem so annehmt, wie ich bin.”
(My name is Rintaro Ousaki. I’ve decided to pluck up a little courage and speak German. I’d be happy if you’d accept me just the way I am.)
When I finished speaking, the table fell silent for just a moment.
My heart skipped a beat.
Damn it.
Did I go too far?
Did they get put off by my pronunciation, or the fact that I suddenly seemed to be taking this seriously?
Did it create that kind of atmosphere—like when I used to act like a returnee in middle school—
“Wait, that’s amazing… isn’t your pronunciation better than the professor’s?”
“I won… I’ve got an easy pass in German for sure…”
“Assuming this idiot fails the class… Ouzaki is seriously awesome!”
“This is crazy, the sound of real German is so cool!”
All the reactions I got were positive.
“……Huh?”
A dumb sound slipped out before I could stop it.
“You’re practically a teacher now.”
“Count on you before the test, Professor Oozaki!”
Laughter broke out.
But it wasn’t malicious mockery or derisive snickers.
It felt like they’d accepted it as just another part of who I am.
I was at a loss for words for a moment.
My mind couldn’t keep up with the fact that what I’d been trying to hide had been accepted so easily—much more easily than I’d expected.
“See?”
Shino said quietly from beside me.
“It turned out okay, didn’t it?”
That voice wasn’t the same as the cheerful party president’s from just a moment ago.
It was the voice of a friend who’d always looked out for me.
“…………!”
I tried to say something back to Shino, but the words wouldn’t come out right.
Seeing me like that, Shino flashed a wide, toothy grin and gave me a perfect thumbs-up, as if to say no words were needed.
★ ☆ ★
The social gathering wrapped up without any further issues.
Thanks to Shino’s loud declaration at the end—“That’s all for today! No after-party! All you wholesome underage freshmen, go home and get some sleep!”—we managed to avoid that awkward atmosphere where people hang around outside the bar after the event.
Shino really is good at drawing those lines.
“Man, that was fun!”
“I got to talk to people I’d never spoken to before. I’m glad I came!”
“Osaki! I’m seriously counting on you for that German study session before the test!”
“Yeah, yeah, I got it.”
We exchanged brief goodbyes in front of the bar and headed toward the station.
I ended up walking side by side with Shino.
The night air was a little chilly.
Unlike the buzz of the campus during the day, the path to the station was quiet.
“So, how did it go, Rintaro-kun?”
“You saved me. If it weren’t for Shino, it wouldn’t have gone that well.”
“Hmph, you can praise me more than that.”
I smiled slightly in response to Shino’s smug expression.
Then, after a brief pause, I brought up the subject.
“To be honest, I’m still a little confused.”
“About the German from earlier?”
“Yeah.”
As we walked, I recalled everyone’s reactions from a little while ago.
“You know, I used to think that if I mentioned things like speaking German or having lived over there… that I’d stand out. Actually, that’s exactly what happened in middle school.”
“Well, that’s true…”
“So I figured it would be the same in college… I’ve tried not to reveal much about myself… but when I actually did, everyone just accepted it normally…”
The word “happy” doesn’t quite cover it.
It’s a little different from “relieved” too.
It felt like opening the window of a room I hadn’t used in a long time, and a fresher breeze came in than I expected.
“Well, aren’t the circumstances different from when we were in middle school?”
“Circumstances?”
“Yeah. Back then, everyone was right in the middle of puberty, right? We overreacted to things that were just a little different, teased each other in weird ways, and we weren’t exactly at our most composed either.”
Fiddling with the strap of her bag, Shino continued in a lighthearted tone.
“And you, Rintaro, had just returned to Japan and your environment had just changed, right? The reactions from those around you might have been harsh, but I wonder if you yourself were overreacting a bit too.”
“…Maybe you’re right.”
It’s true—I think back then, meeting Japanese people my own age for the first time in a long while, or dealing with minor cultural differences, might have made me overly sensitive to “differences.”
I was so worried about being different from others that I lost sight of what I really wanted… There was definitely a part of me that stood out because I was taking things too sensitively.
“—In college, you wear your own clothes, right?”
“What are you suddenly talking about?”
“No, no, I think this is actually a pretty important point.”
Shino’s expression turned slightly serious.
“Up until high school, we wore uniforms, right? We wore the same clothes, sat in the same classrooms, and followed the same schedule. In other words, it was a place where everyone was expected to be more or less the same.”
“Well, I guess so.”
“But in college, we wear our own clothes. We choose our own classes. We choose our own clubs, part-time jobs, and friends. Doesn’t that basically mean, ‘Go ahead and be yourself in college’?”
I’d never thought of it that way.
Wearing casual clothes to class is just because universities don’t have uniforms.
Choosing classes is just because that’s how the university system works.
That was the extent of my thinking.
“So, you know, being different from others actually makes you more popular. Things like speaking German or having lived abroad before—those are treated as unique traits. At least, that’s how it was in our class, right?”
“……Maybe you’re right.”
“The ‘normal’ you’re thinking of, Rintaro, is probably the ‘normal’ you picked up in middle and high school. But you know, maybe ‘normal’ for college students is a little different?”
Those words hit me right in the chest.
The ‘normal’ I’d been trying to protect.
Not standing out too much, not sticking out too much, and making sure I didn’t become the center of weird rumors.
That was definitely the survival strategy I’d picked up in middle and high school.
But college is different.
The classes, the clothes, the relationships—everything is different from high school.
If that’s the case, maybe it’s only natural that what “normal” looks like is different, too.
“……!”
I felt like my vision had cleared a little.
To put it dramatically, it was as if I’d been cowering inside a cramped box until now, but had just been told it was okay to step outside.
“Shino… thanks.”
“Wh-what? You’re being surprisingly honest all of a sudden. It’s kind of scary.”
“Don’t make fun of me.”
When I said that, Shino narrowed her eyes just a little.
But she quickly returned to her usual cheerful, carefree tone.
“Well then, I’ll take that as a sign that you’ll show your gratitude in a tangible way.”
“That’s a pretty ominous way to start.”
“Let’s go for some ‘Nun-cha’ sometime. Rintaro’s treat.”
“Nun-cha… Oh, you mean afternoon tea.”
Is that really the right way to abbreviate it?
I’ve never been, so I’m not sure, but isn’t that the super fancy plate piled high with sweets you can get at hotel lounges or cafes?
Honestly, I’m grateful to Shino, so I don’t mind treating her to a meal…
“A guy and a girl going for afternoon tea together—”
Isn’t that a bit unusual?
Just as I was about to say that, a sudden doubt crossed my mind.
My conversation with Shino made it clear to me.
I need to update my own definition of what’s “normal.”
And the fact that Shino specifically suggested afternoon tea—instead of a neighborhood café or ramen shop—might mean there’s a deeper meaning behind it, right?
“…Won’t it look weird?”
“Weird? This is totally normal for college students. You see it all the time on Instagram.”
Shino answered with uncharacteristic enthusiasm.
Maybe it was just a ploy to get me to treat her, but well, if that’s all it is, I guess I can go along with it.
If things get too awkward, I’ll just have her treat me to ramen on the way home.
“Alright. Since I owe you for today, let’s do it next time.”
“Yesss!”
Shino made a small victory pose.
“(Just as planned—)”
“Did you say something?”
“Nope, I was just happy to see my friend growing up.”
“Really?”
“Oh my, you’re doubting a girl who cares about her friends as much as I do…”
It’s a bit of a stretch, but honestly, it’s hard to deny.
After all, she did save me again today.
Before I knew it, the train had arrived at my stop.
“See you later, Shino. Thanks so much for today.”
“No problem, my friend. I’ll make you pay me back during Golden Week.”
I got off the train and headed to the platform.
I waved goodbye to Shino, who was waving back from inside the train, then headed for the ticket gate.
★ ☆ ★
“I’m home.”
I opened the front door and called out as usual.
But there was no reply.
“……?”
I took off my shoes and glanced toward the living room.
Usually, I’d hear footsteps the moment I got home.
Then Elis would come to the entrance and smile, saying, “Welcome home, Rintaro.”
At first, it made me feel uneasy and a little tickled.
It wasn’t like we were lovers or family—why would she greet me every single time?
But now, it was starting to feel like the norm.
“Well, I guess she’s in her room.”
It wasn’t strange for her not to come greet me some days.
Elis has her own things to do, and she has no obligation to adjust her schedule to my arrival time.
I told myself that, and started heading to my room to put down my bag.
That was when it happened.
“…H-huh… cough… cough.”
Through the door, I could hear the sound of Elis coughing softly from her room.
“Elis …?”
I stopped in my tracks and knocked on the door.
After a brief pause, a weak voice answered.
“I’m sorry, Rintaro…”
The voice that came back wasn’t her usual cheerful, lively one.
It was hoarse and sounded strained.
“I think… I caught a cold…”
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