Part 4
Two days later, during class.
It was a classical Japanese literature lesson, but I couldn’t focus at all. Actually, this has been happening a lot lately.
...Whenever I let my guard down, I get flashbacks of the cold stare from that black-haired girl. That gaze, as if she were looking at some disgusting bug. Sure, it was a suspicious situation, but was it really something to despise that much?
── Pop.
A crumpled note flew over from the seat next to mine. When I unfolded it, I saw, written in cute, rounded handwriting:
"Hey, Mr. Creeper~ Let’s pay attention to class, okay?"
"......"
I glanced to the side and saw Himari grinning mischievously.
When I ignored her, another crumpled note came flying. This one said:
"Want me to help you find that girl? Maybe it’s your fateful encounter~ (LOL)."
I folded it up and slipped it into my pocket. The next thing to come flying was Himari’s fist. She delivered a light punch to my right shoulder.
“Don’t ignore me!”
“No, this is clearly an ‘ignore-worthy’ situation. Did you really think I’d fall for this elementary-school-level taunt?”
“Huh? You’ve got some nerve calling someone’s kindness that.”
“Kindness, huh? Okay, so what would you do if you found her?”
“Hmm~ Maybe I’d record you getting rejected for posterity?”
“Rejected! Rejected! Also, why is confessing the default assumption here?”
“Don’t worry about it. Even if you get arrested for being a creep, I’ll take care of you~ Oh, but if I get married in the meantime, no hard feelings, okay?”
“That’s beyond irresponsible…”
“Fine~ How about you just settle for me then? Should I issue you a reservation ticket? A thumbprint will do!”
“I’ve told you before—I absolutely refuse... Huh?”
I suddenly noticed the gazes of the other students fixated on us.
On the podium, the elderly classical literature teacher was staring at us, his eyes narrow and disapproving.
“Natsume-kun, please don’t disrupt Inuzuka-san’s studies, okay?”
"Why me!?"
Himari is great at putting on a friendly facade, so somehow, I always end up looking like the one causing trouble. …The Himari Magic should never be forgiven.
"Well? What's your response?"
"I'm sorry…"
The classical Japanese literature class ended, and it was time for lunch break.
As I prepared my convenience store bread, Himari Hina came up behind me and rested her chin on my head. Then, she started rhythmically tapping my shoulder with her hand.
"Thanks to you, I got scolded~"
"The nerve of you to even say that. How thick-skinned can you be…?"
I shook my head up and down, causing it to bump repeatedly against Himari's chin. With every hit, she let out a "Auu! Auu! Auu!" like a seal.
I could hear some girls in the class whispering, "Those two are flirting all day," "They’ve been like this since last year," and "Ugh, just explode already." I apologize for my best friend's complete disregard for time and place…
"By the way, Yuu, are you still hung up about what happened the day before yesterday?"
"I'm not hung up on it. I'm perfectly calm."
"Then why haven’t you made any progress since then?"
"Ugh…"
"Don’t worry about it~ Being called a creep by a beautiful girl is practically a reward!"
"No, it’s not. Where did you even hear that nonsense?"
"My brother. When I told him you got called a creep by a pretty girl, he said, 'I’ll pay him to trade places with me.'"
"Why is it that someone who looks that good and has a great personality is utterly ruined by his tastes?"
"Ahaha, maybe it’s genetic?"
"Genetic…?"
"Yeah, my family is full of people with weird fetishes. Grandpa went to Europe in the first place because he had a thing for green eyes."
"So, that’s what got passed down to you?"
"Exactly~ I’m an eye fetishist too. And right now, Yuu’s passionate gaze is my number one favorite! ♡"
"Uh… thanks, I guess."
By the way, the incident with the black-haired girl the other day? Yeah, there was no way I could keep that one under wraps. And as a result, I’ve spent the last two days being relentlessly teased by Himari, at her whim.
"Still, isn’t it nice? Someone’s still cherishing your first-ever flower accessory."
"Yeah… though it’s seriously weird."
"Hey, hey! I’m also still treasuring the choker you gave me!"
"Honestly, I think you’re the weirdest one of all…"
Over the years, I’ve made Himari plenty of new accessories. Yet, she absolutely refuses to let go of the choker with the nirinsou design.
Of course, I’m grateful. But for some reason, just thinking about it makes me feel awkward.
While I was chatting with Himari, one of my classmates called out to me.
"Hey, Natsume-kun. You’ve got a visitor!"
A visitor? For me? That’s unusual. Not to sound self-deprecating, but my social circle isn’t nearly as wide as Himari’s. And I’m notoriously bad at keeping up with after-school meetups.
As I headed toward the hallway, the visitor poked their head into the classroom.
"Yo, Natsu! I came to hang out with you!"
"…Oh, Makishima."
A flashy-looking guy with dyed brown hair waved at me.
Makishima Shinji.
He was in the same class as me last year. We started talking a lot because our seats were next to each other right after we entered the school. We’re in different classes this year, but we still call out to each other when we meet in the hallways or during joint classes.
Basically, my only male friend. …Yeah, that sounds a bit sad, but it’s the truth. Aside from Himari, he’s the only person I’d consider a friend.
"What’s up, playboy?"
"Hahaha! Love that greeting, man! That’s why I like you so much!"
Makishima is the very definition of a ladies’ man.
He’s flirted with countless girls and caused plenty of dramatic love-triangle scenes in the process—a modern-day kengou (swordsman) of romance. Judging by the sound of several girls in my class clicking their tongues in irritation the moment he showed up, his reputation clearly precedes him. …Seriously, how is his mental strength this unshakeable?
"If you’re here for an English dictionary, I don’t have mine today."
"I didn’t come for that, my friend. I’ve got something to ask you."
By the way, "Natsu" refers to me—Yuu Natsume. The "Natsu" in Natsume.
When Makishima said he had something to ask me, I was curious. But before I could say anything, Himari called out from behind me.
"Makishima-kun! What brings you here?"
"Hey, Himari-chan. How’s it going?"
"Everything’s great! Thanks to you, I’m having an awesome time in high school life~"
"Glad to hear it. It’s the least I can do since I’m lending you my Natsu."
Himari’s eyebrow twitched slightly. Without warning, she wrapped both arms around mine, her smile suddenly sharp and pointed.
"That’s right~ Thanks so much for always playing with my Yuu, Makishima-kun~!"
"…Tch!"
Crackle… crackle… Sparks were practically flying between them.
Hey, hold on a second. Who said you could gamble over my ownership like this? I belong to me! And for the record, it’s my parents who pay my tuition!
"…Didn’t you two date back in middle school? Why do you get along so poorly?"
Incidentally, Makishima is apparently Himari’s ex-boyfriend from before she met me. When I first found out, I was stunned. …Seriously, small-town relationships are way too interconnected. Both of them are the type to move on quickly, so it’s not like I was particularly bothered, but still.
Himari let out a small chuckle, wearing a sly, almost philosophical smile.
"Even if it was just to kill time, it’s not a past I care to revisit."
"Quite the harsh sentiment. Did I do something wrong?"
"Gee, I dunno, maybe it’s the fact that your five-timing got me targeted by all the other girls, and I was subjected to endless harassment?"
"Ahahaha! Well, if you accept a confession out of curiosity despite not even liking me, that’s bound to happen. It’s the price you paid for underestimating me by putting me on the same level as other guys. Consider it a lesson learned."
Classic Makishima—shameless and unapologetically self-assured.
…Come to think of it, is Makishima the reason Himari has been so averse to romance? This is news to me. What an absolute piece of work.
"Anyway, didn’t you say you had something to ask me, Makishima?"
"Oh, right! Almost forgot about that, thanks to our little talk"
Makishima finally got to the point.
"Did you, by any chance, talk to a girl by the vending machines after school the day before yesterday?"
"A girl?"
The day before yesterday… Could he mean the black-haired girl?
The moment I realized it, a chill ran down my spine.
"Wait, don’t tell me—she’s your current girlfriend? I mean, yeah, I did talk to her, but I wasn’t hitting on her or anything…"
"No, no, no, not what I mean at all."
Makishima jabbed me lightly in the chest with his index finger.
…Not that I mind, but this kind of touchy behavior from a guy is just confusing.
"Anyway, I thought it might be you when I heard the description."
"Description? What do you mean?"
Makishima’s finger slid sideways, motioning toward the door.
Peeking in from the hallway was the girl Himari and I had been talking about earlier—the black-haired girl.
"Oh…"
"…Hi."
That was all she said before quickly looking away, still as aloof as ever.
Makishima, however, didn’t let it slide. He jabbed her forehead with his finger in a playful yet firm manner.
"Hey, hey! Rin-chan, you’re the one asking for a favor here. How about a proper greeting?"
"Ow, that hurts! Jeez, Shi-kun…"
Shi-kun?
Oh, I get it. “Shi-kun” as in Shinji Makishima. Wait, could they stop flirting right outside my classroom? People are going to stare—although, now that I think about it, wasn’t that a bit of a boomerang at me and Himari?
"Makishima. What’s your connection to her?"
"She’s the daughter of the pastry shop behind my house. Basically, my childhood friend. And, for the record, one of the very few girls I’ve sworn never to make a move on. Treat her well, okay?"
"Right. Thanks for the absolutely irrelevant second half of that explanation."
Childhood friends of opposite genders really do exist, huh?
And not just that—this girl is seriously beautiful. Makishima’s looks are top-tier, too, making them a picture-perfect manga-like duo.
As I marveled at the sight, Himari reacted before I could.
“Oh? Is that Enocchi? Wait, could it be the girl you were talking about, Yuu?”
“Enocchi?”
The black-haired girl also showed a hint of recognition when she turned to Himari.
“…Hi-chan?”
Hi-chan? Oh, right—Himari as Hi-chan.
Great, now it feels like we’re in the middle of some nickname showdown.
…But seriously, how are all of them connected except me? What’s with these ridiculously small-world dynamics? Can someone please explain before I get left behind?
“Himari, what’s your connection to her?”
“Yuu, it connects to you too! Remember? During the school festival, she’s the sister of the fashion model we got help from.”
And then it clicked.
Back in middle school, during the school festival, my flower accessories became a hit thanks to a post from a popular fashion model on Twitter.
Himari’s brother happened to be friends with that model, which explained how Himari and the black-haired girl knew each other. Figures—Himari’s social circle is always impressively wide, like some kind of networking demon.
“So, um…”
“…Enomoto Rinon.”
Ah, her name.
It’s just as cool as she looks.
“So, Enomoto-san, you wanted to see me, not Himari?”
“…………”
She glared at me like she couldn’t loathe me more. Hey, I didn’t ask for this meeting either…
Realizing the conversation was stalling, Makishima jumped in to steer things forward.
“Rin-chan, if you don’t say what you need to, you’ll just leave Natsu hanging.”
“Shi-kun, stop calling me that…”
Oh, so Rinon becomes Rin-chan.
Is the nickname obsession Makishima’s thing, or hers? Whatever. Not important.
“...Here.”
She extended something toward me.
Enomoto-san held out both hands.
In her palms rested a familiar accessory.
"Is this… the bracelet from before?"
It was the metal bracelet modeled after the Gekkabijin flower. Sure enough, the clasp was still broken. No wonder she wasn’t wearing it on her left wrist today.
As I was piecing things together, Enomoto-san explained her reason for coming.
“…I called some accessory shops and home improvement stores, but they all said they don’t repair non-branded items. My friends told me I’d be better off just buying a new one…”
"Ah, I see."
In short, she wanted to formally ask me to fix it for her.
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