Episode 26 – crony

Let’s see, she supposed to be in class 4, right? Haruie-san is probably pretty far back in the attendance number, right?　
Hmm… …… Oh, there you are. You are alone as usual.

Why do I feel like I’m attracting a lot of attention? It’s not unusual for someone from another class to visit you.

“I wonder what he’s doing here. ……”

“You don’t belong in your own classroom, do you?”

Eh, me?　Are you talking to me by any chance?

　
Wait, wait, wait, calm down. Being paranoid makes you paranoid. Is this the opposite of “the grass is greener on the other side”? Hahaha, that’s not true at all.

“Hey, Haruie-san, how are you doing?”

How can you afford to be reading when you have a test coming up? It’s quite daring to be able to read a novelette with a beautiful girl on the cover without a cover, isn’t it? There are many delinquent students in the school, so they are likely to get involved with you.

“Hmm, Zenkichi kun, is that you? It’s been a while.”

She looked at me for a moment, and then looked down at her novel again. Well, the way she talks, the atmosphere, she is still …… the same as ever.

“You look cool today”

Wolf cut, sharp eyes, saltiness, inflectionless voice, you name it, she’s a cool beauty. Wear a dowdy lab coat and you’ll look like the type of mad scientist who is popular with the same s*x.

“….You haven’t changed, Zenkichi kun.”

“You’re the one who looks the same as before. If you had gone to an all-girls school, you would have been the lone prince.”

She’s the type who has a reputation for being unapproachable, which attracts people. Unfortunately, at this high school, she’s more lonely than solitary.

“You don’t think I’m attractive as a woman?”

Haha, she really hasn’t changed. I’m sure my former girlfriend would have said the same thing.

“That’s a stretch. It’s impossible to be unattractive with your good looks.”

I can’t say this out loud in front of the other students, but if she is unattractive, the other girls are like dirt. It’s not that the other girls aren’t good, you know?　She’s just too beautiful.

“I’m too easy……. I know I’d be a fool to take you at your word, but I’m going the way of the fool.”

Her words are as esoteric as ever. She talks about my words as if they were a stopgap measure to make up for the fact that she’s a fool.

“So? Did you come here to clear your head before the test?”

Clear ……?　It’s a bit odd, but it’s right on the money. I’ve been getting a lot of unwarranted disapproval from my classmates, so I thought I’d clear my head by chatting with an old friend. Well, I’m glad she understands me so well.

“Yeah. I don’t mean to be rude, but I thought you might be a good fit.”

“……, that’s really rude.”

She looks like a fool, but that’s her way of acting. I’m sure she’s been called twisted, but she’s not so twisted that she’s paranoid about being treated like a woman of convenience. Rather, she is sincere and pure-hearted at heart.

“Hahaha, I’m sorry.”

“You should apologize more often. Your true nature has already been exposed.”

This is her way of acting ……, isn’t it?　She is the type of person who likes to make sense and play meaningless farce as she is a fan of novels. Her usual way of speaking is also theatrical.

“But well, I feel refreshed too.”

Oh?　Did Haruie san want to talk to me, too?　I see, she’s still as lonely as last year. Well, I should have come by more often, shouldn’t I?

“I’ve always wondered. Why you bother with a girl who looks as bad-eyed and eerily tall as I do.”

Well, it’s true that it’s rare for a girl to be over six feet tall, but it’s not that unusual, is it?　I’m sure it’s normal for athletes to be over 5’7”.

“I don’t care what you look like. ……”

“Fufu, who are you to say that? I’m blessed with looks, that’s why you asked me out, right?”

……? There’s a lot wrong with that line, now. She supposedly got rid of her complex about her looks last year. Even if she had relapsed, the current line is strange. I understand that you pick out cute girls and talk to them, but not the other way around.

“Are you saying I’m into ugly girl? If so, then you’re a perfect candidate?”

“….You’re going to kill me with compliments like that.”

That’s not true. You and Amamiya-san are trying to demean me in every way possible.

“Hahaha, maybe that’s what you actually want? No way, I can’t believe it…”

“I do want it, right? Because if I make fun of myself, you’ll praise me.”

…Oh?

“Yes, you’re stronger than I thought. No, I’m not surprised.”

I feel like she’s a strong love interest. Is it because she’s a cool type?

“I was really complex about it at first. But since I met you, I’ve gained confidence.”

Oh, that’s pretty nice to hear. It gives me confidence to know that there is someone out there who has been saved by me.

“I thought you were teasing me at first. It hurt me to hear you say that.”

Seriously, ……, that’s a bit of a stretch. I think it’s more about her negative thoughts.

“I’m sorry about that. ……”

Whatever the cause, it doesn’t change the fact that I hurt her. It may be too late, but I’ll do my best to apologize.

“You don’t have to apologize. One day I’ll be comfortable with what you’ve said.”

“Comfortable?　You mean you changed your mind?　What kind of change of heart?”

“Well, that means I knew what I was saying was true…”

“It’s love.”

“Eh……?”

An act? Love? No, a favor.
Oh, you mean warmed by human kindness.

“Well, ……. It was just an illusion.”

“Huh? Illusion?”

“I’m a real ……, though.”

I don’t know ……. Whether it’s Amamiya san or Haruie san, there aren’t enough words. I don’t have many friends, but I’m still a high school student, so I should be able to communicate more smoothly.

“I was happy even if I was mistaken. I was happy that you wanted me.”

“wanted ……?”

“I’m a woman after all.”

……? Where did you reaffirm your identity?　
Did you identify as a man? Diversity?
　
I didn’t really get the point, but when the chime rang, I reluctantly decided to end the conversation and return to my classroom. Well, it was probably just the usual farce or skit, so I didn’t need to worry about it.

Anyway, I think I’ll ask her to leave the school together. I haven’t talked enough yet.

Well, I feel like Amamiya-san’s gaze has been cold since I returned to the classroom, but I wonder what’s going on. Is she in a bad mood?　It might be a sensitive issue, so I’ll just forget about it.

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