Episode 32 – The little devil who notices, and friend A who doesn’t notice
Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093087122434729/episodes/16818622175538634008
“Let’s eat.”
Morning classes were over, and it was lunchtime.
I was eating lunch in the classroom for the first time in a while. Lately, I had been eating with Shiramine on the rooftop, so I felt a sense of nostalgia.
“Hey, Hayami. Aren’t you eating with your girlfriend today?”
“…Itakura?”
Two pieces of bread, probably bought at the school store. Holding them in his hands, Itakura, the ace of the baseball club, sat down in front of me.
“Shiramine isn’t my girlfriend. …She seems to have something to do.”
“I see. You’re not even dating, but you eat lunch together almost every day.”
Itakura tore open the bread bag, overflowing with interest. Hmm, is that a cutlet sandwich, which is one of the top-selling items at the school store? Itakura, you’re pretty good.
“What about you? You’re the ace of the baseball team, so you must have a girlfriend or two…”
No way, this guy. He’s the type who faints just standing in front of a girl.
“I’m sorry…”
“D-Don’t get me wrong, Hayami. I’m just not interested in high school girls. I think college girls, or rather, female college students, are the best. That’s all!”
“Hmm?”
College girls. Well, if you define high school girls as being on the borderline between children and adults… a 50-50 mix, then college girls are a little beyond that.
About 90% adult and 10% child, I guess.
“Not bad.”
Calm women are cool, aren’t they?
Let’s imagine the essence of the term “college girl.” A woman dressed in a sleek formal suit, campus life, clubs.
And what came to my mind was.
“Itakura… I’m sure the college girl you imagine is an illusion created by modern society.”
Drinking parties, partying, being lazy. Our certain college girl is somehow far removed from the general public.
“By the way, does Hayami have any siblings?”
“One older sister.”
“Hmm, tell me more.”
Itakura made a face like a sea bream biting into a shrimp.
“She just started university this year… but she spent a year studying abroad in Germany during middle school, so she’s three years older than me.”
She studied abroad to compete in violin competitions in Germany.
“Hmm, an intellectual type. And then?”
“Um, well…”
Ah, no good. The recent laziness is so bad that nothing comes to mind.
“S-she’s really good at switching gears.”
“Oh! She’s the type with a big gap. That’s really… good…”
Wow, this guy is creepy. Is it normal to be able to fantasize that much just because someone is a college student?
“Ah, Hayami-kun. Can I talk to you for a moment?”
“Fu!!!!”
As soon as Kazekawa spoke to him, Itakura froze in front of her. He was so skilled that he could be called an entertainer.
“What’s wrong?”
“I have something to discuss with you…”
“I, I, I, I need to go to the bathroom!”
Itakura stood up abruptly and left the classroom as if fleeing.
“Did I interrupt something?”
“No, that was a fine play.”
Hearing him talk so passionately, it was a little creepy.
“So, what was it you wanted to talk about?”
“Oh, yeah. It’s about cleaning the school grounds after school today.”
“Cleaning the school grounds?”
I hadn’t heard about that.
“Well, today, the class committee and the cleaning committee are going to pick up trash around the school.”
“Oh, I see. I understand.”
Well, I’m basically free after school, so it shouldn’t be a problem.
“Okay, so I just need to stay after school?”
“Yes. I’m sorry to ask, but could you do that?”
“It’s not like Kazekawa is wrong or anything.”
And so, I went back to lunch.
＊＊＊
“Now, students. The reason I’ve gathered you here today is none other than…”
Hey, I just heard this greeting two weeks ago.
After school, we were gathered in front of the school gate.
“First, I was going to ask you to introduce yourselves, but it seems that’s not necessary.”
Almost all familiar faces. That’s what she must have thought. The beautiful girl standing in front of us, Student Council President Tsubaki Sanada, smiled softly.
I felt like our eyes met, but I’m sure it was just my imagination.
“Now, some important notes. Honjo-kun, could you explain?”
“Haa… Why do you always give me the boring stuff? Seriously.”
The vice president, Honjo, sighed and stepped forward to take over for President Sanada.
“Alright, listen carefully as I explain.”
The explanation and instructions took less than five minutes. They covered things like which areas to focus on cleaning and not to go onto the road.
“Everyone, thank you for your cooperation today. …Hey, President.”
“Hmm. Thank you for the explanation. Well then, please take care of it, everyone.”
The president clapped her hands once, and we left the school gate.
“Hayami-kun. I’m in your care, okay?”
“…Ah, yes.”
The strange gaze I felt from the president was not just my imagination after all.
“Um, the groups are… What, seriously?”
The groups that had been assigned in advance were very convenient for me.
“I feel like it’s fate that we’re together in a place like this, too, senpai.”
“Oh, yeah.”
Shiramine. She had put away the mischievousness she showed when we were alone or when she came to my house, and now she was in pure, beautiful girl mode.
“Hayami-kun. Nice to meet you.”
“It’s reassuring to have Kazekawa in the same group.”
“N-no…”
The other person was Kazekawa.
And then there was the last person.
“…You didn’t tell anyone about that, did you?”
“What are you talking about? Oh, Nishimiya is an otaku…”
“Don’t say that!”
It was Nishimiya Aira, the cleaning committee member from the neighboring class.
“Sorry, sorry.”
“Hayami-kun, you’re close with Nishimiya-san. That’s a little surprising.”
Kazekawa, who saw the exchange between Nishimiya and me, expressed that impression.
“…That’s not true.”
“Huh? Shiramine-san. Did you say something?”
“…No, nothing.”
“Let’s finish this quickly and go home. I want to catch up on my reading.”
Nishimiya started walking, and the three of us followed her.
Shiramine and I naturally walked behind her. Nishimiya and Kazekawa walked in front of us.
“…Hmph.”
“S-Shiramine-san?”
Shiramine turned away and wouldn’t even look at me.
I was a little confused by her sudden coldness.
“Um, did I do something?”
“Think about it yourself, senpai. You’re actually pretty smart.”
…Damn, have I been slacking off lately?
“I have no idea. I guess… I’m no good.”
Ah, I’m not feeling very well today. It felt like something was stuck between the gears that were supposed to be turning smoothly.
No, that’s probably not the right way to describe it.
Probably.
“Senpai. Did something happen today?”
“Eh?”
Shiramine, who had been looking away, suddenly looked serious and turned her gaze toward me.
“Nothing happened…..”
That’s a lie. I’m definitely worried about it.
The words she said are stabbing me like needles.
“No, even if you don’t like yourself, you’re not the kind of person who would say that with that kind of expression on your face.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, definitely.”
“I see.”
“… I want to ask you about it, but I have something I need to do right now, so I’ll ask you again tonight.”
Shiramine came around in front of me.
…Apparently, Shiramine is coming to my house again today.
“So, right now… if you hold my hand, I’ll forgive you.”
With that, Shiramine, her face bright red, held out her hand to me.
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