Episode 16 – Little devil logic
Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093087122434729/episodes/16818622173716594263
“Are you calm now?”
“…Yes.”
We sat side by side on a bench on the rooftop for a while.
The tears in Shiramine’s eyes had stopped, leaving behind red swelling.
I didn’t know why she was crying. But somehow, I felt it wasn’t right to ask.
“Senpai. Was I a nuisance?”
Shiramine asked in a soft voice, as if talking to herself.
She was looking down, but even from her profile, I could see her emotions.
It was loneliness and sadness.
“What did you think was a nuisance?”
“…I’m just taking up your time, aren’t I? You didn’t like it, did you? Having to deal with a junior you don’t even like, who’s such a pain in the neck.”
“…Oh, I see, that’s what you mean.”
Somehow, I began to understand the situation.
Shiramine had probably read that newspaper article and misunderstood something.
“Just to be clear, the rumor that I’m dating the president is fake news from the newspaper club, you know?”
“…………Eh?”
“Besides, the first time I talked to the president was two days ago in the student council room. Even I wouldn’t start dating someone in just two days.”
If I were to date someone, it would only be when I no longer a Friend A.
In other words, it would be when Aota chose someone else.
“…Kuu…”
“Shiramine-san?”
Shiramine suddenly fell silent, gradually puffing out her cheeks, her face turning bright red, and covering it with both hands as if to hide it.
“What is it? So, I was just assuming that on my own? Please forget what I said earlier, senpai.”
Shiramine spoke quickly, sounding angry, but in reality, she seemed to be overcome with embarrassment.
In fact, she rolled her white bangs around her fingertips while her eyes darted around, which was a sign of her embarrassment.
“Well, never mind… Then, what do you think about that rumor, senpai?”
“What do you mean?”
“I think it’s normal to hate being written about as dating someone you don’t like, right? But you seem fine with it.”
Her anger seemed to be directed at the newspaper. Well, that makes sense.
“Ah…”
It’s true that it’s unpleasant to have baseless rumors spread about you. I have some thoughts on that too.
But.
“To put it simply… I’m sorry.”
“Sorry?”
Shiramine looked puzzled.
“Yes. To the president. Because if it were written that she was dating someone like me, I don’t know what people around her would say.”
President Sanada is a genius. There is probably no one else in this school who can match her. She is that amazing.
Compared to hier, I’m just an ordinary person with nothing left to offer.
“There’s no way someone like that could like me, right?”
To be honest, I was trying to be self-deprecating. I wished Shiramine would laugh along with me.
But she didn’t.
“You’re not just insensitive, you’re infuriating.”
Surprised by her words, I looked at Shiramine in a flash.
“S-Shiramine-san?”
She was looking at me with an expressionless, disappointed face. I felt a chill run down my spine.
“For you, is the reason you like someone because they’re outstanding? Because they can do anything, are pretty, and are smart?”
“No, that’s not…”
People aren’t decided by such things. Surely people aren’t that simplistic or superficial.
At least, I probably wouldn’t fall in love with someone just for that reason.
“Then why?”
“…That is…”
At that moment, I suddenly realized something. I probably haven’t truly fallen in love with anyone yet.
In contrast, the girl in front of me seemed to know the answer.
“As long as it’s my heart that likes someone, anything is possible. I don’t decide whether I like someone based on whether they can do something or not. That’s what I think.”
Maybe this is what it means to fall in love with someone. That’s what I thought.
“I’m sorry. I got a little carried away.”
Shiramine exhaled and returned to her usual expression.
“Senpai, you haven’t had lunch yet, right?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“I’m making you a bento.”
Shiramine handed me the familiar bento box as if nothing had happened.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
I opened the bento box she handed me. Inside, instead of omelet rice, there were regular side dishes and rice sprinkled with sesame salt.
“Wow, you really put a lot of effort into this.”
It was clear that each dish had taken a lot of time and effort. The color of the dashi-flavored omelet was beautiful, and the fried chicken was definitely not frozen.
I picked up the dashi-flavored omelet with my chopsticks and put it in my mouth.
“Senpai told me to try making something other than omelet rice… How is it?”
“It’s delicious!”
The seasoning was such that it tasted good even when cold, and it was fluffy yet retained its shape and melted in my mouth.
“I’m glad you like it.”
Shiramine smiled softly, looking half relieved and half happy.
Seeing her made me feel calm.
“Senpai, why don’t we skip class today?”
Shiramine seemed to be gazing at the shimmering sea in the distance.
It was true that the weather was nice and cheerful today. It wouldn’t be bad to spend the afternoon here relaxing.
“That’s an attractive suggestion. But…”
Before I could finish my sentence, it happened.
Click. It was the sound of a camera shutter.
“Shiramine, stay here!”
I reflexively stood up from the bench. It was probably the same situation as yesterday at the bus stop.
In other words, I thought the newspaper club students were going to create another piece of gossip like that.
“Senpai? What’s wrong?”
Shiramine, who didn’t understand the situation, raised her voice in confusion.
“I’ll explain later!”
If I missed my chance here, tomorrow the relationship between Shiramine and me would be revealed.
Considering today’s newspaper, it would be suspected that I was cheating on her, but I didn’t care about that.
More importantly, if such an article were to be published, Shiramine, who had nothing to do with it, would suddenly become the target of curiosity. If that happened, it would inevitably interfere with her love life.
“That’s the one thing I can’t forgive.”
I’ve always taken PE lightly. Sprinting, relay races, even daytime baseball.
But right now, I’m serious. I have to be. If I don’t, someone will get hurt.
So I put all my strength into my legs. I don’t care if my knees hurt.
I started running.
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