Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093093152263860/episodes/822139837660564183
After school, I finally made it back to my own classroom.
I’m exhausted. Today really wore me out.
In the staff room, the teacher lectured me endlessly about what school is all about. “Having Asahina-san here disrupts discipline,” “When Asahina-san speaks, the classroom descends into chaos”—she said whatever she wanted.
But this time, I couldn’t say a word back…! Because of Toka’s daily dramatic outbursts, the future of my school life was looking increasingly uncertain.
In the end, the teacher ordered me, “Kuga-kun, you need to be more aware of your role as Asahina san’s handler!” Right. I’d completely forgotten, but I was appointed as Asahina san’s handler!
“Asahina san, wanna go to karaoke later?”
As I entered the classroom and headed back to my seat, a crowd had gathered next to me. Apparently, the girls were inviting Toka out to hang out.
They talk about class hierarchies, but that doesn’t seem to apply to Toka right now. Well, I guess this is how Toka should be treated normally. Or she’ll become some untouchable, unattainable flower. Today’s events definitely ruled out the unattainable flower option!
“Absolutely not.”
Toka-san refused instantly. No flattery. No hesitation. No looking back. At this rate, she’ll never fit into the class…
“Ah, Ryo-kun!”
Toka spotted me, stuck where I was.
“Ah, it’s Hisaka-kun.”
“Hisaka-kun’s back!”
The moment my classmates spotted me, they scattered like survivors encountering zombies.
What the hell? I’ve never been treated like this in class before!
“What’s going on here!?”
“Well, there’s an Asahina-san barrier around Kuga-kun…”
“Asahina-san barrier!?”
I let out a dumb-struck voice and froze in place. Even though it was a weird term, I instantly got the nuance of how it was being used!
“Ryo-kun, let’s go home♪”
Ignoring everyone’s stares, Toka hooked her arm through mine. My classmates’ glares were piercingly painful! The cause of the Asahina-san Barrier was definitely that declaration earlier and this action now!
“Toka, come here!”
I hurriedly pulled Toka into the hallway. She looked at me with utter bewilderment.
“What’s wrong? Why the scary face?”
“Toka, I’m assigning you a mission.”
“A mission?”
“Yeah. A training mission.”
“Ooh~”
Toka’s eyes lit up. Just using the word “training” made her get really enthusiastic. That made me kinda happy.
“Go to karaoke with everyone sometime! It’s necessary to fit in with the class!”
“Waaaaaah”
Toka let out a scream like someone had shoved super spicy wasabi into her mouth. Her whole face contorted, and she tightened her grip on my arm. Her eyes, which had been sparkling brightly, turned pitch black. Her rejection was too intense.
“You’ll be in high school for nearly three more years. You have to at least try to blend in with everyone.”
“Ryo-kun suddenly turned super Spartan…”
“Isn’t the bar for ‘super Spartan’ a bit low?”
Earlier, while getting scolded by the teacher, it suddenly occurred to me.
The environment surrounding Asahina Toka is dramatically changing right now. That much is certain.
…But Toka herself is starting to stop caring about those around her.
The Toka who was deeply wounded by the words “failed cultivation” wasn’t like this.
It was because she couldn’t live up to everyone’s expectations—because she couldn’t live up to her mother’s expectations—that she ended up sinking so low she was completely broken.
I know. Toka shines brightest when she tries her hardest for someone else, like during that cultural festival, or when she stood up to prevent Kagurazaka Kaede from being labeled a “failed cultivation.”
“It’s okay. I’ll go with you, so don’t worry.”
“But… I’m not really that good at singing.”
“It doesn’t matter if you’re good or bad. What’s important is going with everyone and enjoying it together.”
“…I hate the idea of singing badly and having people get disappointed in me.”
I understand Toka perfectly well.
She’s terrified of being lifted up only to be torn down. Just like how the “Nationally Beloved Beautiful Young Actress” became known as a “failed project” that nobody even glanced at, Toka understands better than anyone how society’s opinion can flip in an instant.
That’s why she places her complete trust in me, knowing I won’t abandon her. She only has eyes for me. That makes me incredibly happy, but…
“Stop whining! Come on, let’s go!”
“My boyfriend suddenly turned into an abusive one!”
“Where does it say that?!”
I grabbed Toka’s hand and decided to head back to the others.
Acting only out of self-interest—I think that would make me just like the adults I condemned back then.
You know, I want Toka to make some regular friends too.
◇
“Okay, Asahina-san, you’re next to Kuga-kun, right?”
“Yeah. Thanks.”
We arrived at the karaoke place in front of the station with the girls. Thanks to the Asahina-san Barrier, Toka and I naturally ended up next to each other.
I told her to go herself, but this is way harder than I thought… And of all places, there’s not a single guy here. I’m totally out of my element. But if I didn’t come, Toka would never have agreed to go.
“…Ryo kun, this is a harem, right?”
“I thought ‘harem’ was supposed to be a happier word.”
“Listen, I…”
“Hm? What is it?”
“Sorry. It’s nothing right now.”
Toka sat beside me, looking solemn. What’s up? Is she nervous? As I watched her for a moment, one of the girls operating the remote suddenly exclaimed.
“This is Asahina-san’s song, right?!”
“Ugh.”
A thoroughly disgusted sound escaped from Toha. The screen displayed the words “Asahina Toka”. Ah, nostalgia! Asahina Toka’s only anime tie-in song. There should have been at least three others, like drama insert songs too! As I got excited all by myself from the nostalgia, the expression on Toka’s face beside me vanished completely.
“I absolutely won’t sing it.”
“Oh, okay. I was hoping to hear Asahina-san sing live.”
The girls, who had brought up the topic themselves, were surprisingly nonchalant about it. Right now, they seemed more preoccupied with what they themselves would sing than with Toka’s situation.
“Haa, let’s just sing and get this over with.”
“Ooh.”
Thka stood up and loaded a song before anyone else. That’s Toka for you. When it counts, she’s got more guts than anyone.
The song was an old one, but as soon as it started, everyone recognized it—a really famous tune.
“Can you celebrity~♪”
Toka’s beautiful voice instantly silenced the room.
Everyone stared at her, holding their breath.
Damn, she can sing. Who said she was bad at singing?
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