Chapter 1: The Prologue of Each
『Suzune POV』
✦Today, as always, everything remains the same.✦
[Thank you for helping me make a friend.]
The screen of my phone lit up, displaying that message.
I couldn’t help but feel my face soften at the notification.
"That's great, isn’t it?"
When I sent back a quick "Congrats!", my phone vibrated almost immediately with a reply.
...Wow, that was fast. Almost shockingly so.
With a small chuckle, I glanced at the new message.
It was from Kurusu: [I want to talk later.]
"She’s so earnest and straightforward. Really a good girl. Although, she’s so pure it makes me worry sometimes..."
If I had to guess, she’s probably planning to formally ask me to be her friend too.
When we last met, she mentioned, [Kaburagi-kun first.]
Honestly, I don’t think there’s any need to worry about the order of making friends, but maybe it matters to her.
Graduating from the one who guided her and taught her so much.
It’s not that she wants to leave Ritsu behind, but rather, she wants to transition from a teacher-student relationship to equal friends.
That’s probably what Kurusu desires.
Her earnestness and rigidity make me chuckle, but that straightforwardness is genuinely dazzling.
[How about this: 'Sure, but there’s no need to formally say you want to be friends again.' Hmm, maybe I should add, 'We’re already friends anyway.']
Being vague might lead to misunderstandings, especially with Kurusu, whose way with words often hits wildly off-target.
I need to be extra careful to avoid anything she might misinterpret.
"Though, I have to admit, that’s part of what makes her so endearing."
She’s just so adorably earnest that it makes you want to lend her a hand.
Even as a fellow girl, getting to know her makes me feel like taking care of her is unavoidable.
Did Ritsu also find himself drawn to that part of her...?
"Alright, let’s go pick those two up. They’re probably nervous about being in a new class."
I headed toward the nurse’s office, where the two were likely waiting.
Just as I got close, the door to the nurse’s office opened, and I saw two familiar faces.
A girl showing a tablet screen with a blank expression and a boy who looked... somehow flustered.
“Oh... so he can make a face like that.”
The words slipped from my mouth unbidden.
Even though I should’ve been used to seeing him, I didn’t know that expression of his.
It was a reaction I’d never seen him show in front of me—a genuine, unguarded reaction. It made a small, sharp pang resonate deep in my chest. (T/N: Love Triangle?)
But I quickly reassured myself: “It’s natural to treat people differently.’
Besides, there was something even more surprising than that.
“Kurusu seems to be unexpectedly thick-skinned. I didn’t know that either.”
Normally, trying to get closer to someone who already has a significant other requires a lot of nerve.
That’s what I thought, but Kurusu didn’t seem to mind much at all.
Well, either way, I couldn’t be like her, no matter what.
Sharing comfortable moments with him, being by his side—that hasn’t changed since the day we met. For me, that’s what feels best.
──And so, as always.
Today, too, nothing’s different. It’s just the usual.
When our eyes met, I waved at the two of them.
『Kurusu POV』
✦My First Friend✦
──I became friends with Kaburagi-kun.
That fact alone makes me so happy my heart feels like it's bouncing.
But... maybe this is all just a dream?
Thinking that, I grabbed both my cheeks and pulled them outward, moving them side to side.
When I let go, a faint pain lingered on my cheeks, telling me this is reality.
…Phew, it’s not a dream.
Overjoyed, I wrote “Kaburagi-kun is my friend” on my tablet and showed it to him.
When he saw it, he averted his gaze, looking embarrassed.
Huh…? Did he not like it?
To confirm his reaction, I decided to stare at his face intently.
“It's not that I don’t like it, so you don’t need to make such a big deal about it.”
【Really? Friends?】
“It’s true. Though, well, saying it out loud like this feels a bit… Anyway, I’d appreciate it if you could just pick up on the atmosphere for now.”
Saying that, he began fanning his face with his hand, muttering, “It’s so hot.”
Fufu. Kaburagi-kun’s reaction is kind of adorable…
He’s usually so mature and composed, unlike me. But occasionally, he shows these boyish expressions that make me want to keep watching him forever.
When I look at him, it feels like my stiff, unyielding expression softens just a little.
But Kaburagi-kun seems to dislike being stared at so directly… Ah.
He averted his gaze again… How disappointing.
“Kurusu, staring at someone’s face like that can make them uncomfortable, so be careful, okay? Some people might even find it scary.”
【Got it. I’m sorry.】
“I’m not angry, so you don’t need to apologize. I just thought it was worth mentioning.”
【Thank you.】
“No problem. Well, I kind of understand your personality, Kurusu, so there’s no misunderstanding on my part. But you should be careful not to do the same with other people.”
【Noted.】
When I said that, Kaburagi-kun looked at me with a worried expression, as if to ask, “Really?”
…Kaburagi-kun is so kind.
To think he cares so much, even in his everyday actions... Yes. I need to try harder.
I’ll learn as much as I can and use it to grow in the future...
Just as he taught me, I smiled softly and wrote:
【I want to always look at only you, Kaburagi-kun.】
“Th-The way you’re putting it… well, whatever. But, you know, there’s no point in only looking at me.”
【I won’t get bored.】
“I think you’d get bored, though.”
【You’re good for three bowls of rice.】
“Don’t just drop a random joke like that. Nobody but me would get it! Well, anyway, let’s work on broadening your horizons, okay? If you’re looking for people to learn from, I recommend Hinamori, for starters.”
【Got it.】
It’s true… I still lack so much experience.
The time I’ve spent with other people and the time I’ve spent at school are both filled with blank spaces…
No matter how much time passes, those gaps will never truly be filled.
That’s why his words, spoken without giving up on me, mean so much.
Every single thing Kaburagi-kun says──it makes me genuinely happy.
【Please continue to be my friend from now on, too.】
“…Yeah.”
Seeing his curt response, my lips naturally curled into a smile.
──Today is a special day for me.
The first truly happy day of my life.
I’ll call it the ‘The Day I Made My First Friend – A Precious Experience’.
Though, it’s a bit long… so calling it 『My First Day』 doesn’t sound strange, right?
…Yeah, yeah. Let’s go with that.
"…Why are your expressions always so borderline?"
While I was lost in thought, Kaburagi-kun muttered those words.
…What does he mean?
Curious about his words, I looked at him, but he quickly turned his face away.
Even when I lightly poked his shoulder, he refused to turn back toward me.
But his ears… they were tinged with a faint red.
…Oh, that’s right. I need to properly thank Kirisaki-san.
And next time… maybe I can become friends with her, too.
I sent a message saying, 『Thank you for helping me make a friend.』
Later, I’ll make sure to thank her in person… and apologize. Then I’ll properly ask her again…
Since I told Kirisaki-san that “Kaburagi-kun is my first friend,” I need to apologize properly, thank her again, and make my request. So much to do.
But somehow, it feels fun and makes me happy.
“Alright, Kurusu, we should get going. It’s about time.”
I glanced at the clock and nodded.
I’d love to talk more with Kaburagi-kun, but it’s time to wrap up. Now, I’m off to meet my new class, have a quick introduction… and then school is over for today.
【Nervous.】
“Yeah, I get it. Changing classes is nerve-wracking, isn’t it?”
It’s true—new classes always make me nervous. Just when I start getting used to things, I have to start all over again.
Thinking about it makes my stomach tighten, and it feels like it might start hurting…
But at the same time, I’m really looking forward to it.
Because this time, I’ll be in Kaburagi-kun’s class.
Of course, I won’t know for sure until I get to the classroom.
We each get handed a slip of paper, go to the room written on it, check the seating chart on the blackboard, and only then do we find out who’s in the same class.
All morning, I couldn’t calm down, wondering who I’d be with. My heart was pounding ever since I woke up.
But today, when I went to school early, Mochizuki-sensei was there and secretly told me.
…Fufu.
I wonder if Kaburagi-kun will be surprised when he finds out we’re in the same class…?
I’ll show him my tablet with the message:
【Actually, I’m in the same class as you, Kaburagi-kun!!】
And I’ll add a 『Ta-daa!』 sound effect to go along with it.
It’s a simple little surprise, but I’ll give it a try before we leave the infirmary… Yes. Let’s do it right away.
Just as I was planning this in my head, Kaburagi-kun suddenly held his head in his hands for some reason.
Alright… I’ll do my best in the new class.
I’ll give it my all… Ei, ei, oh!
『Ritsu POV』
✦An Unchanging Daily Life✦
“I think going to the classroom with me instead of him would be less likely to cause any misunderstandings, don’t you?”
As soon as we stepped out of the infirmary, Kirisaki appeared as if she had been waiting for the perfect timing. She said that and then whisked Kurusu away.
“Well, I guess five minutes should be enough… I feel like I’ve already been through a lot, and it’s just morning…”
Left behind, I stared out the window at the large cherry blossom tree by the school gate and let out a sigh.
I placed my hand on my forehead and lightly tapped it with my fingers. Once again, a breath escaped from my lips.
I couldn’t help but act this way.
The whirlwind of changes happening around me was almost too much for my head to keep up with.
Kurusu’s sudden declaration of friendship, the surprise of finding out we’re in the same class, and now the appearance of an irritable-looking Kirisaki.
Kirisaki doesn’t have an inner voice I can hear, so her sudden appearances always catch me off guard.
If only she were the type to make her thoughts obvious, it’d be easier to notice her presence…
But she’s not like that.
That’s why it’s comfortable being around her—there’s no overlap of voices in my head. At the same time, though, it also means she keeps her feelings bottled up instead of expressing them, which can lead to her carrying hidden burdens.
Understanding that gives me a sense of comfort with her, but it also leaves a faint loneliness lingering in my heart.
As I indulged in these sentimental thoughts, a sudden breeze seemed to blow down the hallway.
(Alrighty! Time to make a flawless entrance! Angle—perfect. Breeze—perfect. Direction—perfect... Fufufu! This is the ideal situation!)
Hearing the loud voice behind me, I let out a sigh in my heart.
As usual, her heart’s voice is as loud as ever, and I can hear every single word.
…Having such a strong sense of self-expression can be a bit much, can’t it?
Well, as always, I just pretend I don’t hear anything and let it slide.
“Kaburagi-san, were you captivated by the beauty of the cherry blossoms? (Though, of course, I’m far more beautiful than the cherry blossoms, so you should really be captivated by me instead, shouldn’t you?)”
Hinamori, completely unaware that I can hear her inner thoughts, speaks to me from behind in her charmingly beautiful voice.
When I turn around, pretending I just noticed her, there she is, standing with an alluring smile.
“Yeah, something like that.”
“Fufu. Is that so? (Your reaction is so dull! Honestly, that’s just plain rude!)”
Even as she complains internally, neither her expression nor her behavior betrays her thoughts.
The sunlight streaming through the window bathes her in an ethereal glow, while the breeze slipping through the slightly open window stirs her long hair.
As I gaze at her, she narrows her eyes as if dazzled, brushes a lock of her swaying hair behind her ear with her pinky, and her inner voice declares:
(Alright! Finally, he’s fallen for my charms! This is it—this is the jackpot!)
…She’s incredible. As always, I’m almost tempted to applaud the sheer theatricality of her performance.
In a way, she’s a professional.
If she became an actress, she could define an entire era.
Knowing exactly what appeals to the opposite sex and pulling it off so flawlessly isn’t something just anyone can do. Someone less observant than me would probably take this entire sequence at face value, seeing it as nothing more than a natural and spontaneous moment.
Nobody would guess that Hinamori researched, planned, and meticulously prepared every detail of this performance for a day like today.
Because I understand the painstaking effort behind it all, I can’t help but engage in this charade with her, despite how farcical it is.
That said, it’s not like I’m going to fall in love with her or anything.
"So, Hinamori, how long do you plan to keep this up?"
"Hmm? That’s a bit sudden... But that’s a foolish question."
"Is it?"
"Of course. I’m going to keep at it forever. Thanks to you, Kaburagi-san, I’ve been leveling up too."
"So, failure is the stepping stone to success, huh?"
"Exactly. That’s why I’ll keep showing off to you, thoroughly and without fail."
"Just don’t overdo it."
"Got it! (Now, now, go ahead and let your guard down. As long as you think I’m just drifting through life without any plans, that’s perfect for me. For now, you can keep acting all composed... but it won’t last. Once my presence in your life becomes routine, and then suddenly I stop, you’ll feel the sting of that absence. It’s only natural. When people lose something, the damage to their hearts is immense. And then, what will happen? You’ll start searching for me instinctively, won’t you, Kaburagi-san? “Did she start hating me?” “What’s going on with her?”—these seeds of doubt will take root and grow into something much bigger. Yes, into love. That’s when I’ll make my move. Ahahaha... Truly, I’ve come up with something terrifying, haven’t I? I can’t wait for this plan to come to fruition~~ geh-heh-heh.)"
"………"
Endure it. My facial muscles… just endure it.
If I let my expression slip, I lose. I have to act like I heard nothing, like I know nothing.
But seriously, who even laughs like "geh-heh-heh" in their own head?
She’s ridiculously fast-talking and overthinking, as usual… but strangely, it’s kind of reassuring.
Suppressing a wry smile, I shifted my gaze away from Hinamori and looked outside.
"Huh? Now that I think about it, Suzune-chan isn’t here. Is she in the faculty room again?"
"Again? Well, it’s true that Kirisaki and I often get errands from the teachers and end up in the faculty room, but not this time. We’re just doing different things today."
"Separate activities... I see. (Kaburagi-san seems to be hiding something... could it be...!? Could it be that Suzune-chan has been caught doing something delinquent!? Like smoking or drinking... wait! If that's the case, I need to stop her as her friend.)"
Hinamori clenched her fist in front of her chest, as if she had made a firm decision.
It's good that she's so considerate of her friends, but she's completely misunderstanding the situation.
Kirisaki isn't the type to turn to delinquency or do anything a student shouldn't do.
"I think your worry is unfounded, Hinamori."
"It’s strange for me to say this, but really?"
"Yeah, yeah. Kirisaki doesn't do things that are detrimental to herself. If anything, she’d give a cold stare to anyone who did."
"If that's the case... (He looks so sure. And that annoyingly bright smile… it’s infuriating.)"
She looked at me with an openly dissatisfied expression.
Her slightly childish demeanor, one she wouldn’t show others, made me shrug.
"Jealous?"
"Not really. It's just... it feels like you two trust each other or something… I'M SO JEALOUSSSS."
"That was really monotone. We've known each other since middle school, so we get each other."
"Oh, really... (That's so unfair!! Isn’t this just their own world without me?! Wait—could it be that Suzune-chan is actually the biggest obstacle to making Kaburagi-san fall for me!? Maybe that older girlfriend thing was just a bluff, and he’s really with Suzune-chan… Oh no, is he testing my reactions just for fun?! I need to find out and catch him red-handed... or I’ll never win!)"
What kind of logic leads to that conclusion?
It’s tough dealing with her stubborn competitive streak...
I sighed, and when I looked back at Hinamori, she had a determined look on her face.
(I've made up my mind. I’ll get Kaburagi-san to talk about love, and I'll make him slip up…)
As always, her schemes are practically spilling out of her thoughts.
"So, Kaburagi-san, let’s talk about love stories."
"No thanks."
The moment I responded without hesitation, she glared at me, her eyes locking straight onto mine without so much as a blink.
Then, she puffed up her cheeks, so I poked one. The air escaped with a soft "psst," and the result was her face turning a deep shade of red.
"You tease me sometimes, don’t you? (Not that I hate it… but it feels like losing when you laugh.)"
"If someone puffs up their cheeks in front of you, wouldn’t you do the same?"
"Don’t compare it to something like ‘there’s a sea, so I swim.’ Anyway, let’s talk about love stories."
"Do you even have that much to talk about? I feel like you’d have more fun discussing it with other girls. Go on, have a lively chat with them."
"Well, sure, I talk about it with other girls, but… I want to hear about things from a guy’s perspective—like your girlfriend, how you started dating, what you like about her, stuff like that."
"That’s mostly about my girlfriend. Besides, love is so diverse, everyone sees it differently. Asking just me would only give you a biased opinion."
"Really? But you seem different from other guys your age, Kaburagi-san. Like, more composed."
"Composed, huh?"
"How should I put it… you’re kind of unmotivated—ah, I mean… dried up."
"That’s just an insult, isn’t it?"
"And, you know, I’m pure, innocent, graceful, and virtuous. In short, I’m practically divine, aren’t I? So, to maintain that image, you’re the only guy I can talk to about this stuff, Kaburagi-san."
"…Don’t say that about yourself. And you’re not even being modest."
"It’s the truth."
"Sure, sure. That’s amazing."
"You really treat me so carelessly, don’t you? If it weren’t me, I’d be crying right now…"
She looked up at me with moist, puppy-like eyes.
But no tears ever fell.
"You’re in top form as usual."
At my comment, Hinamori made a bashful gesture, saying, "Oh, stop, it’s nothing… tehe."
Her overly calculated behavior left me no choice but to chuckle wryly.
"By the way, Kaburagi-san, we’re in the same class again this year."
"Ah, right. Well, let’s get along this year too."
"Same here. But this year, I’m definitely going to win, so be prepared!"
"Win at what…?"
I muttered with a sigh, and Hinamori, smiling, extended her hand to me.
It was probably meant as a pre-battle handshake.
Instead of shaking her hand, I formed my hand into a scissor shape and held it out.
"Well, I’ll take this as my first win."
"Wh-what, Kaburagi-san!? Starting rock-paper-scissors out of nowhere… that’s not fair!"
"Come on, let’s go."
"Wait! You’re just brushing it off again! This conversation isn’t over yet!"
Hinamori kept tapping my back repeatedly as I walked ahead.
Hearing her inner voice shouting, "This is so frustrating~," I couldn’t help but laugh.
The same as always—unchanging, ordinary days.
Looks like our second year will be just as lively.
Chapter 1 END
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