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Then I walked alongside Renka, continuing down the school path.
…When it’s just me and Renka alone, what did we always talk about again?
Somehow, I couldn’t get into my usual groove. I had absolutely no idea what topic to bring up with Renka.
“Hey, Akito—”
Renka called my name.
Her voice was light and bouncy. The way she talked when she was in a good mood. Like, say, right after she’d bought that dress she’d been wanting.
“…Wh-what is it?”
“Hehe. No, I was just thinking how happy I am.”
Renka bent down slightly as she walked, peering up at my face from below.
Her perfectly shaped face staring intently at me… What the hell is that, such a blatant pose. She’s way too cute.
“I realized how happy it makes me to walk to school with you, Akito. ――Thanks, Akito.”
Ah… Seriously, what am I supposed to do?
The Renka right now is practically a different person. Gone is her usual aloof attitude; she keeps saying and doing things that can only be described as affectionate.
It’s probably been since elementary school that Renka’s been this gentle with me. At least since right after we started middle school, she’s mostly been cold.
When we reached the classroom, unsurprisingly, our classmates shot us surprised looks.
…I didn’t miss hearing one of the boys click his tongue in disapproval. I guess this is the weight of walking to school with a perfect beauty, I thought.
“Hey, Akito. Did you do the physics homework?”
As soon as we sat down, Renka asked that without even glancing away.
I couldn’t quite bring myself to look directly at Renka’s dazzling smile. So, propping my cheek up to hide my embarrassment, I replied,
“…Yeah, I did it. Well, I left the parts I couldn’t solve blank…”
I ended up answering honestly, but how would Renka react?
Would she be disappointed that I couldn’t even solve that level of problem? Thinking that, my body stiffened just a little.
“Oh, okay. Good job, Akito.”
But.
Renka just smiled softly, her voice as gentle as an angel’s.
“Akito. Which part did you get stuck on?”
“Um, I just couldn’t figure out question 4 at all…”
I flipped through the textbook as I replied.
Then, with a slightly pleading look up at me,
“…Can I come over there?”
“Huh? Y-yeah, sure…”
“Really? Thanks, Akito!”
When I said that, Renka brought her chair over and moved right next to me.
So close I could feel her breath near my ear. …Damn, this is way too close. Renka’s beautifully shaped, adorable face was right beside mine. My heart was, of course, about to burst.
On top of that, the stares from the boys in our class were killing me. Did Renka not notice these gazes?
“Ah, here. This applies the principle we learned the other day—”
As always, her face was just too cute. What is this girl? I thought.
And that sweet scent. Perfume or something… Nah, that can’t be it. I can’t imagine serious Renka breaking school rules.
“—Akito? Are you listening?”
“Ah… S-sorry! I was spacing out, my bad…”
This is bad. Renka was kindly explaining things to me, and I missed it.
This might actually make her angry. Thinking that, I glanced at her expression, and she said,
“No, it’s fine. So, Akito. Should I explain it again?”
Why? I thought.
Why… why is she smiling so happily?
I understand Renka less and less. Even though we’re childhood friends—it seems I don’t understand her at all.
During class, it was even stranger.
About once a minute, Renka would glance over at me.
…I can’t concentrate on class like this. Thinking that, I looked over at Renka, and our eyes met perfectly.
“Ah… s-sorry, Akito…”
Before I could say anything, Renka slumped her shoulders.
Then, in a hushed voice, she continued apologetically.
“…I’m sorry. I was bothering you, wasn’t I…?”
“No, it’s not that… It’s just, when someone stares like that, it makes me feel self-conscious… Did you need something?”
Scratch, scratch. The teacher wrote example problems on the blackboard with chalk.
In the quiet corner of the classroom, I waited for Renka’s reply,
“well, it’s just…”
But Renka only fidgeted, moving her lips without saying anything for a while.
The teacher finished writing the example. The students turned to their notebooks, only the scratching sound of mechanical pencils filling the air.
Amidst this, Renka covered her mouth with her hand, then drew her lips close to my ear and whispered,
“――…It’s because you looked… cool, Akito, studying so seriously…”
Her whisper brushed against my ear.
Ticklish, sweet… Ugh, seriously. What is this?
When I looked back at her—Renka had already started solving the example problem on the blackboard, just like the other students.
But. Her profile, tinged with a faint blush, different from usual.
It was indescribably charming, and yet so adorable.
And yet.
A sharp pang. …For some reason, deep in my chest, it hurt intensely.
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