Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818622172789075625/episodes/16818622173849124740
“I’ve never really done yakiniku before.”
“Oh, I see.”
The next day, Thursday.
She said this during our usual chat during break time.
After math class, she would talk to me while asking me about a problem she didn’t understand.
Perhaps she was worried about the fact that she had been called on by the teacher earlier, but had given the wrong answer and caused laughter.
I have a feeling that the real issue is more about the after-study chit-chat, but I don’t care either way.
The gesture of her chin resting on the desk as if she was making a little gesture was kind of cute.
The neat face at close range and the sweet scent from her hair is stimulating.
The old me would not have been able to withstand this attack and would have immediately fled.
Today, too, the returnee in my class is close, too close.
But that’s beside the point.
Yakiniku is a Japanese culture, and if you don’t consciously think about eating it, you probably won’t come in contact with it abroad.
Besides, there would be few chances to eat it at home, let alone at a restaurant.
It is understandable that a young lady who is a returnee from abroad is not familiar with home yakiniku.
Since we have been friends for a while now, the conversation between Reisa and I has not attracted much attention from the class.
“So, you want to do it this time?”
“You sure?”
“Well, yeah.”
By “this time,” I of course meant the weekend party.
The date and time had been set, but what we were going to do had not been decided.
Fortunately, my mother was away on a business trip that day, so there would be no problem if we hung out until late.
As I was thinking about this, Reisa said with a smile.
“Then I’ll buy the ingredients here and bring them over.”
“Eh, no… Is that okay? We could just split the bill.”
Meat is expensive.
I always feel reluctant to buy meat for one person, so it’s impossible for me to buy meat for three people with my wallet.
That’s why I’m happy about Reisa’s offer.
But, that is still a shame in itself.
“No problem at all ! We’re doing this at Tsukushi’s house, and it’ll cost us a lot of money in terms of utilities and work, right? Let me at least buy some meat.”
“……Then thank you.”
”Ahaha ! You’ve been helping with my studies every day, so I should at least let you do that.”
Laughing out loud, Reisa stood up and tapped me on the shoulder.
Somehow, the distance seems so close today.
Of course, if body contact were to occur, people around would start looking at us more piercingly
I hope they haven’t heard about our weekend get-together, I’m a little nervous.
“So, did you retake the test?”
“I did, in case you were wondering. Look here, I also did the printouts you made me yesterday.”
“Reisa, you are really, really great……!”
“Wha !? Why did you suddenly start crying !?”
I was just moved.
How precious it is to have someone like this who doesn’t mess up the prints I had made or leave them lying around, but instead diligently solves them and shows them to me.
I felt it again.
If she is this honest, it’s not hard at all for me to teach her.
In fact, I would like to teach her more.
That’s what I said.
“No, that would be too much. It would mean less time for you to study.”
She also worries about me and says things like that.
She is an angel.
I’m so happy that I’m overcome with a strange anxiety, wondering if it’s okay for her to be so kind to me.
It was while we were having such an unimportant conversation.
“Edano Tsukushi.”
A voice called out to me from the right, and I shifted my gaze.
I looked over to see an unexpected person standing there.
It was Takagi Rio, a brilliant student, who was watching the exchange between Reisa and me with displeasure.
I was puzzled for a moment because this was the first time he had ever spoken to me.
“What is it?”
My voice came out so low that even I was surprised.
Takagi looked at Reisa in response.
“I need to talk to you for a minute. Can we?”
“Sure? Why are you asking me?“
”Eh? Well. ……Whatver. Okay, let’s go.”
“That’s pretty sudden. Don’t I have the right to refuse?”
I was a little surprised at how unsociable Reisa was, but I immediately followed Takagi as he started walking.
Really, what use could that be?
I walked behind Takagi, feeling a sense of disquiet.
◇
I was taken to the back of the gymnasium.
I break out into a cold sweat as Takagi stops in his tracks at the usual spot where we usually talk about something important.
Is this okay?
I looked around to make sure I was safe.
It’s a common practice in the world of manga to take someone to a secluded place and lynch them in a group.
It’s not surprising that this guy would be tempted to do so, just to spite me for reversing his grade.
After all, I still remember what Kako and this guy said to me that day.
However, Takagi turned to me from the front, apparently not planning to lynch me.
Apparently, he’s going to tell me something now.
……Ha !
I noticed a new concern there.
Could it be that he was planning to confess his feelings?
Perhaps, he’s attracted to both men and women, and fell in love with me because I got first place.
Speaking of the back of the gym, a confession was a possibility.
It was a blind spot…….
That being said, it was also awkward being faced with Takagi.
I can’t help but think back to Kako’s comment that day that she’d done what she had to do.
That in itself is not important, but how should I face someone I’ve known since childhood and who has now become like that?
I don’t know, I’m too much of a virgin.
“Hey, what’s up with the fidgeting?“
”No, not really.”
I answered with a straight face.
Then, Takagi said something unexpected.
“I broke up with Amane Kako.”
“Eh?”
What do you mean you broke up?
I don’t know when they started dating, but it’s been less than a month since that day.
Takagi continues as I widen my eyes.
“I came here today to declare war.”
“About what?”
“It’s about the next mock exam at the end of the month. I’ll get back to the top and look down on you again.”
“……”
I wondered to myself what kind of declaration this was.
You can just study on your own and make fun of me again after you beat me.
I’m sure it’s his own pride, but to be honest, I’m troubled when he says something like that to me.
As I was thinking that, he let out a sigh and glared at me.
“You dared to send that monster over to me. She’s really messed me up.”
“….You mean Kako?”
“That’s right ! Ever since I started dating her, she’s been interfering with my studies and this is what’s happening ! It’s all her fault that I got such bad grades…!”
Takagi rambling on with a demonic look on his face is the worst.
It’s not something an ex-boyfriend would do to push his own mistakes onto others.
But is it wrong to understand how he feels?
When I saw Takagi’s score on the assessment test, I thought to myself, “That’s not like him.”
It felt strangely fitting to think that it was because of that childhood friend.
But I don’t want him to complain to me about it.
“No no, you were dating because you liked each other, right? You brought it on yourself.”
”Don’t be silly ! Who would’ve thought she was that idiot !?”
“…Hmph.”
“You laughed, didn’t you !”
I laughed at the oddest time, so I looked like a very mean person.
I was just astonished at the way he said such terrible things to his ex-girlfriend with such a serious expression on his face.
That aside, I knew Kako wasn’t very smart, but what exactly did she do to make him say this?
……No, well, that doesn’t matter.
I guess he has been punished for making fun of other people’s dreams.
It seems the two of them went through hell together, which I find rather amusing.
“I heard from Kako that you’re going to apply to Kaioh University.”
“Yeah.”
“Then I’ll apply to that medical school too. I’ll crush your dreams and get even more for this test and for sending that woman to me !”
Is he deliberately trying to hinder my career path by applying to the same school?
This is also a very clever way of harassing someone.
But.
“You have a bad attitude, so even if you get good grades, you won’t get a scholarship.”
“Eh?”
“I won’t let you say you’ve forgotten what you did to me with Kako. “
“There’s no way they’ll deduct points from your internal score for something like that.”
”That’s right. ….For now, you know? I’m telling you to think about what you’re going to do from now on.”
If his harassment escalates from here, that’s not going to work.
I would normally tell the teacher and wouldn’t resist at all.
I learned from the Kako case.
It’s not always the right answer to just laugh it off.
It is also important to be mindful and take a proper attitude when dealing with them.
Besides, she was my childhood friend even if she was rotten.
Now she has become a woman with no ethics at all, but because I knew her from long ago, I was able to tolerate her a little.
But this one is different.
He is a natural born enemy.
If he interferes with me, I will deal with him accordingly.
Perhaps it was an unexpected rebuttal, but Takagi was silent.
So I said.
“Well, I understand that you want to improve your grades. Do your best.”
”……Ha?”
“I don’t like you, but it’s encouraging to see someone with similar grades to me working hard.”
The fear of losing ignites the fighting spirit once again.
The more Nagisa and Takagi improve their grades, the more I’ll have no choice but to push myself.
Also, something about seeing Takagi now, with his grades down and his emotions messed up, makes me feel sorry for him.
It’s not fun if there’s no excitement.
I guess my words had offended him, because he said something like, “You looked down on me.” and walked away.
“He’s still as annoying as ever.”
Left alone, the monologue came out of my mouth.
–
–
If you enjoy our content, feel free to donate, Thank you in advance !