Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16817330658028208231/episodes/16817330658617169365
Perhaps because it was a holiday evening, the cafe was crowded.
I placed my luggage at a table for six, which was luckily empty, and we took our turn to buy drinks.
“Aizawa, what do you want to drink?”
“Uh, I think I’ll have a coke float.”
“Okay.”
I ordered a matcha latte for myself, let out a sigh, and looked at the three of them from a distance.
“What is it, did you hate it that much?”
Aizawa looked at me accusingly. It seems I gave him the wrong impression.
“I don’t mind, but I thought they wouldn’t be able to have fun if I was here.”
Both Ishikawa san and Sawaguchi san have stood out since they entered the school and are students at the top of their caste. If you are a sociable and athletic person like Aizawa, you may be able to get along with them easily, but for someone like me who doesn’t have a wide circle of friends, it’s a tough hurdle
“That’s not true. You’re a lot of fun to talk to, and you’re a good listener.”
“I see. Thanks.”
I’ll pass over Aizawa’s baseless consolations as appropriate.
After receiving the items we ordered, we returned to our seats.
“Even so, it’s quite a coincidence.”
Ishikawa san, who was seated at the leftmost seat, leaned over and spoke to Aizawa while sipping her drink through a straw.
“That’s true. We had just finished shopping and were talking about what to do next when Aizawa suddenly walked right in front of us.”
Sawaguchi san, sitting in front of me, joined in the conversation, looking amused.
“I wasn’t going to leave the house today either, but this guy asked me out.”
Aizawa held my shoulder and forcefully put me in their line of sight.
“By the way, Aizawa. Please introduce him.”
[ [What?] ]
Watanabe san and I reacted to Ishikawa san’s words.
I widened my eyes and made eye contact with her. What kind of a surprise is this?
While Watanabe san and I are puzzled, Aizawa is smiling mischievously.
“What the hell, you guys. Haven’t you noticed?”
“What do you mean?”
When Sawaguchi san tilted her head, he told them in a full voice.
“It’s Aikawa. We’re in the same class.”
[ [Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh !?] ]
Ishikawa san and Sawaguchi san were surprised and stared at me.
”You give me a totally different impression from school !”
Ishikawa san stood up with her hands on the table and leaned forward.
“You’re more gentle, harmless type…..what kind of face did you make again?”
Sawaguchi san stared at me with half-open eyes.
The two girls stare at me, and I tense up, unable to move.
“B-both of you. Don’t stare at him too much !”
Perhaps sensing my state, Watanabe san stopped them.
I was relieved when Ishikawa san somehow sat down in her seat and Sawaguchi san removed her gaze from me.
“I mean, it’s unbelievable. Why did you hide it until now?”
Ishikawa san gave me a friendly smile, and then she asked me a question
“I didn’t mean to hide it or anything like that, but……”
I just changed my clothes today. The only other thing that has changed is my hair.
If she says that I’m improving, then I’m sure it’s because of the clothes correction that the store clerk and Aizawa chose for me.
As long as it is not my own work, I’m not confident that I can respond with pride.
“I might want someone who has a good taste in clothes.”
Sawaguchi san put her hand on her chin and muttered something like that.
“She’s an amateur model who appears in fashion magazines, you know.”
“Really !? That’s amazing !”
Aizawa gave me a profile of Sawaguchi san. I did think the clothes she was wearing were stylish, but I had no idea she was a model who would appear in a magazine.
When I give Sawaguchi san a look of respect……
“But still, I must have completely missed the fact that such a gem of a person exists so close to me.”
Ishikawa san was strangely proud of me.
“Really, it’s a feast for the eyes alongside Aizawa.”
The two of them got excited and started asking me questions one after another. I was puzzled, but as I was answering them,……
“Come to think of it, Watanabe san noticed this guy right from the start, right?”
Aizawa’s question made everyone in the room turn their gazes toward Watanabe san.
“Come to think of it ! How did you know?”
Ishikawa san’s gaze of suspicion turned to Watanabe san. Could it be that our relationship would be exposed?
How Watanabe san replies will determine our fate. I’m concentrating my attention on what she’ll reply……
“That’s because. It’s Aikawa kun.”
However, Watanabe san did not care about such a doubtful look and answered with a smile as she clasped her hands together in front of her.
“B-because he’s so different from usual. He’s wearing plain clothes and his hair is set.:
Sawaguchi san told me how different I was from usual. She said that I was so different from usual that she could not see the same person at a glance.
She is demanding an explanation as to why Watanabe san noticed it was me. I’m sure Watanabe san will be able to deceive them. I put my trust in her—
“That’s true, but he look just like Aizawa kun, and if he’s wearing casual clothes–“
“Hm ! Hmm !”
That was close, but Watanabe san has a rather natural disposition.
“Hey, shut up, Aikawa !”
“I’m sorry, I have a little bit of a throat problem.”
I raised one hand and apologized to Aizawa, who raised his eyebrows at me and accused me.
“Hey, hey, take good care of yourself.”
Aizawa was taken aback, but that didn’t matter at this point.
“So why the sudden makeover?”
Sawaguchi san’s eyes sparkled with curiosity as she spoke to me. She leaned forward, but the distance between us was somewhat close, and with her face right in front of me, it was hard for me to answer.
“It was…..a matter of chance, or rather…….”
I didn’t really intend to go this far, but the clerk and Aizawa pressured me, and this is what I ended up looking like.
“He actually has an appointment with a woman.”
“Hey !”
I reached out to stop Aizawa, but he guarded with both hands and continued talking.
“He asked me to help him out because he didn’t have any clothes to wear when we went out together.”
“Hee, that’s so cute.”
At Aizawa’s report, Ishikawa san put her cheekbones on the floor and looked at my kindly.
“It’s admirable. If I were told such a story, I might fall in love with you at once.”
Sawaguchi san folded her hands and tilted her head, her eyes twinkling and her expression enchanting. In fact, she may be quite the maiden.
“Even though Maho said that, she doesn’t go out with anyone.”
Ishikawa san interrupts Sawaguchi san.
“That’s because there are no boys in this world who can make my heart swoon.”
Ishikawa san and Sawaguchi san started to get excited about my behavior, but I was more concerned about Watanabe san’s condition.
When I looked at her, she was looking at me with red cheeks. It was probably due to the fact that Aizawa made it come across in a strange way.
If I left things as they were, I would have to face her tomorrow with a misunderstanding. I wanted to avoid that.
“Good grief, Aizawa. You’ve been playing around with me too much, you’re just talking nonsense.”
I brushed my hair back and tried to appear calm as I spoke to everyone.
“The only reason I invited Aizawa to come shopping with me was because I wanted to get some summer clothes and this haircut was just a prank between the sales clerk and Aizawa. I don’t remember telling him about the girl I was going out with.”
I just came here to buy clothes, and the girl I’m going out with is just Aizawa’s fantasy. It’s not a lie because I never actually said a word about it.
“I see, so Aizawa made it up.”
“It would have been nice if it had been true.”
Both Ishikawa san and Sawaguchi san seemed convinced by my brazen attitude. I was saved by Aizawa’s usual attitude.
“Hmmm, it’s a lie that he’s doing it for the girls. Then, Aikawa, you are free now, aren’t you?”
“Eh? Yes, but?”
Sawaguchi san’s eyes twinkle and she makes a mischievous sound.
“Then, you know, next time, let’s go hang out with me too.”
Suddenly, she extends her right hand and touches my left hand.
“How about tomorrow?”
It was so unexpected that my brain was unable to grasp the situation…..
“N-no you can’t !?”
“M-Misa?”
Suddenly, Watanabe san stood up and shouted.
“Tomorrow is too sudden, and Aikawa kun might have plans.”
Everyone in the room looked at her with a blank stare.
After a few moments, she turned her head away and sat back down in her chair.
“Yeah, I’m sorry. I have some things to do tomorrow…….”
“Ah, yeah. I see.”
Sawaguchi san also answered me with a dry expression as if she was completely drained of her venom.
In the end, we parted ways a little later that day.
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