"W-wait... please wait...!"
"!"
I spun around to find Inatomi-senpai standing there, her small fists clenched at her chest. Beside her, Shinomiya-senpai was watching her with a look of surprise.
Then...
"......Damn it, I completely forgot."
"Excuse me, Senpai? I heard that."
The Disciplinary Committee President muttered under her breath, prompting an immediate retort from me. Judging by the way Inatomi-senpai was looking up at her with resentful eyes, they clearly had some other business with me besides the lecture. Well, if it was just about scolding me, Inatomi-senpai wouldn't have needed to be there. Come to think of it, weren't they scouring the first-year classrooms just to find me...? Yeah, okay.
"Well then, if you'll excuse me."
"No, no, wait a second!"
As I tried to slip out of the Student Guidance Room, Shinomiya-senpai rushed over and physically apprehended me. Oh boy, I got caught. It was very like her to grab me instead of just calling out for me to stop.
"Hey...! Why are you trying to leave in the middle of this!"
"What? Shinomiya-senpai, I thought you already wrapped things up."
"I haven't! The scolding wasn't even the main point! And stop talking like that!"
Honestly, my attempted exit was just a bit of a joke, so I quietly returned to my seat. Inatomi-senpai let out a visible sigh of relief. This was therapeutic; I was glad I’d played the fool for a second. As I expected, though, Shinomiya-senpai really wasn't the type to appreciate a joke.
"The main point, you said?"
"Exactly. That's why Yuyu is here."
At Shinomiya-senpai’s words, I turned my attention to Inatomi-senpai. I expected her to be frightened again, but while her frame still trembled, she met my gaze with eyes strangely filled with determination.
"Yuyu has been bothered by the fact that she turned down your kindness. She wanted to apologize properly and thank you for your help."
"Thank me...? But I didn't actually do anything."
"Don't be like that. Just hear her out."
I shrugged and turned back to Inatomi-senpai. I’d spent the last few minutes thinking about how cute and healing she was, but now that her focus was entirely on me, I felt a wave of nerves. Knowing she was about to squeeze out every drop of courage she possessed just to speak to me made those wicked thoughts I’d used to ease my tension vanish. Not that I’m complaining... yeah, someone like Inatomi-senpai is definitely best appreciated from a distance.
"U-um... I'm so sorry for tramping on your kindness the other day...!"
"Right."
"A-and... thank you so much for calling out to me when I looked like I was struggling with those heavy things...!"
"...Ah, no, it was nothing."
She had squeezed those words out with absolute sincerity. When I gave my reply, her face brightened into an expression of pure, radiant achievement. What is this adorable creature? Is she trying to kill me with cuteness? My wicked impulses were starting to surge again.
"I'll do my best to cure my dislike of men, starting with this!"
"..."
...Wait, what?
Suddenly, something inside me went cold. I couldn't blame her for disliking men, but hearing her say that... it rubbed me the wrong way. I could feel my perception of Inatomi-senpai shifting drastically in an instant.
That was a close one; I almost let the bad part of me—the part that blurted out exactly what I was thinking—surface. Saying something unnecessary right now wasn't what I wanted.
"...I see. Good luck with that."
"Yes! ...Eh...?"
"Thank you for going out of your way. If the opportunity arises again, I'll see you then. Well, if you'll excuse me."
"What's the rush? ...Ah, well, just make sure there isn't another opportunity caused by you getting in trouble."
"Right, right. See you around."
Now, back to the classroom. I’d go back and gaze at Natsukawa’s profile from the corner of the room—it was a hobby of mine. A man who suppressed his own ego, compromised, and continued to quietly enjoy life from the sidelines; that was who I was now. Breaking out of my shell of "normalcy" could wait until I found something I truly wanted to do. Until then, I didn't give a damn about the personal growth of someone who wasn't even a friend.
So, go ahead and do whatever you want.
Two girls walked out of the school entrance, letting the outside air hit them. The sports ground lay directly ahead. If they turned left before reaching it, they would find the wall where Wataru had once stood when he finally came to his senses.
Private Kouetsu High School was the institution Wataru had entered specifically to chase after Natsukawa Aika. It was a prestigious preparatory school where an imposing gate and a magnificent school flag greeted every student.
The two girls stood before the grounds, looking at that massive gate from the inside.
"It's already summer, Yuyu. The air is starting to lose its freshness."
"Yes... you're right..."
"...Yuyu?"
The two had just finished their meeting with the junior boy. Shinomiya Rin and Inatomi Yuyu should have finished their lunch break feeling refreshed after saying what needed to be said—or so Rin thought.
"What's wrong? Are you having a delayed case of the shakes? I know you're not good with boys, but he was just a junior. He's a bit cheeky, sure, but he wasn't aggressive at all."
"Yes... compared to other men, you're right."
As Rin said, Sajou Wataru was a junior. When Yuyu had been tormented by guilt over her behavior toward him, learning he was an underclassman had given her the resolve to apologize. Even after meeting him, he had engaged in a lighthearted conversation with the Disciplinary Committee President, leading Yuyu to believe he was a decent person.
"But... I might have said something to make him angry..."
"What? Angry?"
Rin chewed over Yuyu's words, her brow furrowing in confusion. Because she hadn't felt anything out of place during the exchange, Yuyu's concern seemed strange to her.
"I didn't think you said anything odd, and Sajou didn't look angry to me..."
"Yes, I suppose. It might have looked that way to you, Rin-san."
"Hmm...?"
Yuyu had tried her hardest to suppress her aversion to men and maintain a sincere attitude toward her junior, making as much eye contact as she could manage. Because of that effort, she couldn't believe he had simply forgiven her and accepted her gratitude while maintaining that same casual atmosphere.
"I don't really know how to describe it, but... Sajou-kun... he was looking at me like I was incredibly boring."
"What...? Him?"
Yuyu wasn't afraid of people who were uninterested in her. In fact, if someone was overtly indifferent, she found it easier to interact with them in a businesslike manner, allowing her to maintain a baseline of communication even with male students.
However, being looked at with such cold eyes immediately after she had spoken of her resolve to improve her fear of men felt chilling to her.
"Ah, no... it's probably just my imagination. He seemed to get along so well with you, Rin-san."
"Hmm..."
It was merely Yuyu's subjective impression. There was no guarantee that Sajou Wataru had actually found her boring. From Rin's perspective, Sajou had listened to her problems and helped her find a solution, and since she was satisfied with the results, she didn't consider him a bad student.
However, these were the words of Yuyu—the girl who admired her more than anyone else. Rin couldn't just stand by and ignore her feelings.
"It's okay, Yuyu. You're cute."
"W-what is that for...!"
Rin hugged Yuyu from behind and started stroking her hair. She executed the new method she had recently picked up, acting on the realization that she was someone to be looked up to. She would lead the way. And after that, she would leave the rest to her dependable comrades.
After a few moments, the smile finally returned to Yuyu's face.
Begin with what is near.
As the ancients said, it felt like the things I should be focusing on were the ones close to home. I’d wasted so much time acting beyond my station, directing every bittersweet emotion in my heart toward something far out of reach. I didn't think that was a mistake, necessarily—provided I had been able to manage my own environment first.
Deep down, I was probably still reaching out for something that looked reachable but wasn't.
"...Ah! Sajocchi, Sajocchi!"
"...?"
As I entered the classroom, Ashida spotted me and beckoned me over with a whisper. I wasn't entirely sure what was going on, but I leaned in to listen.
"Look, look at that...!"
"? ...Wh-what...!?"
I followed Ashida’s discreet pointing. Further back in the room, Natsukawa was chatting happily with several other girls. And they weren't the "mean girl" types who dominated their own little corners of the class. They were normal—yes, normal, cute girls. Should we have celebratory red bean rice today?
"Heh... You did it, Natsukawa."
"What's with that fatherly look...? Ah, Zakki just joined in too."
"I'm going to kill Yamazaki."
"Hey, Sajocchi isn't exactly in a position to complain to Zakki."
Gunu... fine, I'll allow it. Not even a meathead like Yamazaki would try any weird, stereotypical basketball club moves in front of that many girls. I’d overlook it for now, for the sake of Operation Produce Natsukawa...!
Wait, I really haven't done anything to help, have I...?
"By the way, Ashida, didn't you eat lunch with Natsukawa today?"
"I was going to. But then I saw that. I just sent her a supportive cheer with my eyes, so it’s fine!"
"I see."
The image of Natsukawa’s exasperated face popped into my head. Personally, I thought it was better for Ashida to be by Natsukawa's side... it made it easier for the people around her to strike up a conversation.
Still, it was exactly as I’d hoped. Natsukawa suited being the center of a group. Under normal circumstances, she probably wasn't the kind of girl who would have ever spared a thought for someone as ordinary as me...
"Why don't you go over there too, Ashida? I'll watch the fort."
"What exactly are you guarding...?"
I sent Ashida off, and she charged into the group surrounding Natsukawa. Everyone, Natsukawa included, laughed, and a peaceful, warm atmosphere filled the classroom. It was a good vibe; this made being a "producer" worth it. I felt like I could go for seconds today.
I watched them from the edge of the room, blending into the peaceful classroom background. Just having that view made my leftover, tasteless sweet bun taste a little better. Yes, I was a slow eater, too.
Even to the current me, that corner where Natsukawa stood looked like a sparkling, brilliant space. Just as I felt out of place beside Nee-chan and her entourage, I suspected I’d feel just as awkward even at the fringes of that group.
But that sight of Natsukawa was exactly what I’d wanted. Watching it from a distance felt like the rough, jagged edges of my heart were finally being smoothed away.
She's so beautiful today, too...