Friday morning, 1st week of June82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdK8Cr89bDM
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSh5qc8YVp
All I had ever felt throughout this week was being pathetic. I would wake up really early, ride the train to school, and then hide in the nearby park by the train station. I needed to walk a few short meters in the direction opposite the school to reach the park. That was to avoid a situation where Runa, Hina, or Yui could spot me. I would sit here and wait until it was almost time for classes to start. I hadn’t spoken to any of them verbally, but I basically cut ties with them already. I blocked their numbers and Line accounts. I did that on impulse during that night, four nights ago. And ever since then, whenever they approached me, I would excuse myself and walk away. It was not like they did anything wrong to me. I just didn’t know how to face them anymore. And I thought, that was it. The end of everything that we had. The end of the friendship that we had. All because I was being pathetic.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIcWd4kM9f
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qNVfMSydc
I kicked the ground lightly so that the swing I was sitting on swayed me. Even just for a little, maybe the air that would touch my face while swinging might help me forget everything.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpji6eQTrz
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtkhDy47xY
But after just a few swings, I stopped and then sighed.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcUpbt3OsB
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mtDQNxfdd
Playing at the park wouldn’t be able to help me. Running away wouldn’t really let me escape. No matter how long I waited here, eventually, I would still need to go to school. No matter how I tried not to look at Runa, Hina, and Yui, eventually, I would end up glancing at their faces, and they at mine. I didn’t want to see what they were like when they looked at me. I didn’t want them to see what I was like when I looked at them.
“Eh!? Aren’t you Tojo-chan?” someone by the entrance of the park yelled.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTNHIo6Gsg
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3VwQVHY6o
I turned toward the voice. It was from someone I was not familiar with, so I did not hurry to hide. When my eyes finally reached that direction, I saw two people instead of just one. They were Suzuki Kanoko and Wakaba Ayane. I knew who they were because both of them were in the same class as me.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zGGX39kEd
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9M3XeTQC9m
“What are you doing here?” Suzuki-san asked. I stared at her properly, wondering why they would approach me as they started walking toward me.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbiOsQ9Ofh
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6myXveHW51
The color of Suzuki-san’s hair was hazelnut, but it was more vibrant than Yui’s natural hair color, so I knew, just by looking, that Suzuki-san’s hair was dyed. She wore her hair loose, long, and wavy. Her eyelashes were long, definitely false ones, but her eyes were round and full of life. She was wearing heavy makeup and painted her lips red. Those lips never stopped smiling. In fact, judging by my memories of her during those times I happened to look her way at school, it was rare to see her not smiling at all. Her uniform was mostly tidy, but I was bothered seeing some buttons of her uniform not secured properly. And also the fact that her skirt was too short. Not dangerously short, but short enough that it was already considered to be against school regulations.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWI6fJWfkhB
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nLeHfQP4p
The person beside her, Wakaba-san, was wearing her uniform the same way. Except that she had put on high loose socks and had her school cardigan tied loosely around her waist. I had made a mental note of that, not because I thought it was cool, but because those cardigans were meant for wearing, not for decoration. Wakaba-san’s hair was black and looked natural. She had the side of it tied with beautiful beads that I definitely thought looked cute. I wanted to ask her where she got them if I had the chance later. She was wearing thinner makeup compared to Suzuki-san, and her thin lips, colored in pink, wore a more conservative smile. But enthusiasm was always evident in her expressions, just not at the same level as Suzuki-san’s.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2z0Tdu8BsM
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVM0PJdTkt2
“Ah,” I let out as soon as I noticed them in front of me. “N-nothing.” I was being cautious. Both of them had a reputation for being negligent and rebellious. I had even heard that they bullied someone back when we were first-years. Maybe, when they saw me being alone, they found an opportunity to mark me as their target.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCp1U78ZYzt
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gXlvLpect
So I braced myself.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSIdLIUhOA
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNXePrbUFZ
“Heeeh? But weren’t you totally friends with that cutie, Miyase-chan?” Suzuki-san asked. Her voice was loud and excited.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42WJcJvtgu
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDdufegavQ
“Yeah, and it’s kinda rare seeing you alone.” Wakaba-san nodded in agreement. She had a softer voice, but you could still hear her cheeriness when she spoke.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqPJ4t9dkv
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLrg6VNy7W
“Totally! We’ve always seen you together with her, and with Asakura-chan and Yui-chan,” Suzuki-san continued. She grabbed her waist with both hands and tilted her head slightly to the side.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnc0oewWS8j
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wznRSTI3m
“And we’re sorry if we’re bothering you, but we're just curious,” Wakaba-san said. She placed her chin between her index finger and her thumb while she crossed her other arm and placed it under the elbow of the first one.
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfGWv919kG
“Right~” Suzuki-san replied to Wakaba-san. She smiled when she looked at her and then went back to looking at me. “Actually, Ayane-chi and I have like, always been curious about your group.”
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EuOqUPDFg
“True, like Miyase and Asakura were like the top 2 beauties in our class,” Wakaba-san replied. She let go of her chin and fully crossed both arms across her chest. She closed her eyes and nodded as she spoke.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPagvZFm5Xm
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomf8n7WJBT
“And like, all the boys were always talking about you guys every day, but then it started to become kinda annoying how much they’ve been talking about the same thing, to be honest.” Suzuki-san pouted. “Ah, no offense, but it was the boys that I thought were getting annoying,” she corrected herself and opened both her palms to shake them.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQIn0TRkuW
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8NU2AYjnx
“But we, like, have always wanted to be part of your group too,” Wakaba-san explained. She opened her eyes to look at me.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AEFUxk5eH
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYx96CJpv7
“Totally! I mean, if we were, we could actually be called beauties too, right?” Suzuki-san said, turning to Wakaba-san.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdjuxmt1Hh
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomvj3XK2W9
“Right~” Wakaba-san replied.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpHTSegN6E
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuav7IYngx
Both of them pointed to each other, winked, and giggled.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsOY36GONo
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZD25z92zWe
…I just stared at them. I waited to see if they would actually stop talking and let me answer…
“But then, you know, it was still kinda intimidating just approaching you guys whenever you got together,” Suzuki-san continued. She tilted her head again slightly to the side and pulled her lips in the same direction as well.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCg5nvHpgUC
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH93NxXOt6X
“Mhm.” Wakaba-san nodded and closed her eyes again. “You guys were too radiant to approach.”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4wu5c5Yue
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCLZSXdMKR
“I definitely agree! I mean, don’t you think seeing you four together was kinda like seeing four celebrities hanging out?” Suzuki-san said, touching both hands to her cheeks while smiling.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyb1J3CJUvF
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUXiTkeCNJ
“Yeah, and disturbing you guys just to introduce ourselves was kind of rude,” Wakaba-san explained with a nod.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXhqnXLg4h
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ECQcYCL0P
“I mean, have you ever been into idols?” Suzuki-san leaned forward a little to ask me. “The four of you together were like watching an idol group in real time and live.”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRgCXbIHRGE
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2y2ZuyEFG
…I didn’t know how to follow both of them at all. They were both more expressive than Yui, louder than Yui, and talked more than Yui. And besides, what were they even talking about? Idols? What? I couldn’t even dance or sing. If they were talking about physical appearance, I thought only Runa and Hina would apply to that… Well, I guessed Yui was very cute, so that applied to her too…82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5W8z72nrt
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡciOuQLziSL
“And like—”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54t8LQX5C4
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIs9aRdAzg
“Umm… Suzuki-san… can I say something?” I finally said.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfg69WTHbLg
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfT9t3AcptR
“Ah, yeah, sure!” Suzuki-san smiled. “And, just call me Kanoko.”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhohl3ts84
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXSy56pfCs
“Call me Ayane-chi,” Wakaba-san said.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIg8L0n5zX
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhmmjrzjQG
“I… I don’t think—”
“It’s fine!” Suzuki-san assured me. “So, then in exchange, I’ll call you Mika-chi, is that okay?”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKNdrkevq6
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PZ54HOVON
“Can I call you Mii-chan?” Wakaba-san added.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9OR9Y9iclD
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxolRM71Z8
I thought about it. This was actually the first time I had talked to both of them casually outside of class. But I couldn’t find any reason why I should refuse.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4cIJOwyle
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQ5FgscIOy
So I nodded.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpvE8sVgVf
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD69YtrAJRx
“Yay! Mika-chi get!” Suzu—Kanoko-san—Kanoko celebrated. She raised both her arms in the air.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0KgHU6Q59
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zrgFmPLjY
“I’m glad we could get on good terms with you,” Waka—Ayane smiled. “And I’m sorry that Kan-chan was talking too much.”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSptHHsCcb6
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhT6WeLazr
“Ayane-chi, that’s not fair. You were talking too much too, you know,” Kanoko replied.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtSXwEkkCG
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jUd6pmiBb
I smiled. But I needed to ask one thing before I could totally feel relaxed. Based on what I had seen so far, they didn’t seem to be how those rumors sounded. I didn’t want to be rude by asking, but from my experience with Kuroiwa-san, I thought it was best to clear things up instead of assuming. And also, for some reason, it felt easy to do so.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk52i3N7jvC
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy44Ju2Z0ea
“Umm. Ka—Kanoko… I kind of heard some rumors about you two and—”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkaQKCY135
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0U0PqBL4n
“Ahh… those rumors about us being easy girls, rebellious and bullies?” Ayane giggled.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ388vmzGehx
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHDxlojRw4
“Definitely false, you know, but I don’t blame you if you believed them. I mean, this is the first we’ve actually properly talked, right?”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrvV3WwpIk
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtk8ML1020H
“True, and besides, last year, some chick in class hated us.”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNogheNrWdd
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJL0GZijVk
“Right~ And then she started the rumors about us being easy, that was a handful, you know. And when we confronted her, she started spreading rumors that we were bullying her.”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6cmDmvH5O5
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdysfAjjzYI
“Like, we got popular all of a sudden.”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRPjdvBhcZ
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3AoNEeR8T
“And then boys started calling us out behind the school. I thought they were gonna confess. But you know what the first thing they always asked?”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCV4zh1LUJi
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXySCFj5mUA
I stared at Kanoko when she asked her question. I had no clue.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsETZ5tu0Yx
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzoUjnn4gZw
“They asked, ‘How much?’” Kanoko laughed out loud. “Like, isn’t that crazy?”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuWKCYJKQP
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlAAFtNP0X
“That was truly pathetic.” Ayane nodded.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3M5Ma2uaQt
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7AT4ZH2cg
“So, of course, we rejected every single one of them.”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9ria4AtU5
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDYpKFADZv
My eyes widened and my mouth hung open.
“Isn’t that awful?” I said.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7h6IkFIYaD
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyc8RkuJxI
“Well… yeah…” Kanoko’s smile didn’t fade but it softened a little bit. But after half a second, her smile started radiating again. “But that was not important. What's important is that the people you care about the most know who you are.”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9JkxOj7Om
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4k8ycMDPF
“True,” Ayane said. “And besides, by the end of the school year, everyone in class stopped believing those rumors.”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsLTN2kful
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFJyTuQLik
“Right~?” Kanoko cheerfully replied. “Like even if we look like this, we’re actually fairly studious, you know.”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKG3P1Yhjdh
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnrg21vZcr
“I got rank 56 on our midterm exam,” Ayane said, doing a victory pose.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ034NVnl5C
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtaSTpwznD
“I got rank 52, definitely higher than Ayane-chi!” Kanoko giggled.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXCV1f2BkY
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRbQ06nruH
“Just by a few points,” Ayane replied.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnA2f0Pgx3
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYekCTlv6pQ
“Totally, definitely, higher points.” Kanoko continued.
“I see,” I said. I looked at them with admiration. Both of these girls were strong. Unlike me…82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kzgpefQEf
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5W7gzuMZw
“But you know, among the four of you, you’re the one we kinda looked up to the most,” Kanoko said.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kQUHKWLVt
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4xIp6uuoA
“We always admired the way that nothing seemed to faze you and you were always great in class,” Ayane continued.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NPg8Lk52t
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYLNZnufOb
“Like, we were even kinda surprised you ranked 36th. I mean no offense, but we thought you could easily be in the top 10.”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlhpj6J11r
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUUbdjcTIF
“We were kinda worried to see that.”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3C0qGckSy
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHdnMYSbCu
I lowered my head in shame.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YBIcBzryY
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL43peRNeAx
“I—there were just a lot of things… I just couldn’t… I mean…” I hesitated.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aETiiId5F
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbqcOit9gD
“Is it because of a boy?” Kanoko asked.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiyxGPIxv6
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhRDQUuPok
“Huh!? No!” I blushed and yelled accidentally. There was no way that was the reason!82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnd4W5Atq43
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxi3mNlXXQ9
“Yep, definitely a boy,” Ayane nodded.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOP8M9q5AF
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutApURo11p
“O em gee, who?” Kanoko sat in front of me and looked at me with some kind of expectation.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifuHdtq2yK
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41pc7382bq
“I—no one, definitely no one…” I said.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUzuLkclCl
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTVpvarjiq
“Whoever that boy is, I bet for sure you can make him fall for you, so you don’t need to worry,” Ayane replied.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3Ve6HkN83
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvLTW2s3Nb
“Totally! I mean, you’re pretty, any boy you fall in love with would be lucky,” Kanoko said.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVVDftbmzk
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLvxgQigV0
I sighed.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wgPOOXCP1
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwav5UqOpHM
“That’s impossible,” I said. “I’m not… Hina… or Runa…”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsmynyBEjI
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbPYSkstGs
Kanoko stood up in front of me. She wasn’t smiling, but she wasn’t frowning either. I looked at her, and she glanced toward Ayane.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUrefLj3XB
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHiwg1zaFa
“Girl, I don’t know how you see yourself, but that is kinda unfair,” Kanoko said.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsEVJruell
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FtPPq5hy4
Huh? Unfair?82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLKZorqcag
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBKTdr1XLG
“I mean, you really are cute and stylish as you are already, but if you really want to, you can be at the same level as Asakura-chan and Miyase-chan,” Kanoko continued.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzaxo8vA5Ei
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxy42M1Xeso
“Yeah, don’t look down on yourself like that.”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodEMw0MbGu
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIfLyLtghu
“But—”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2bVPIGXuX
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFhUIVahAK
“No buts,” Kanoko said. “Let’s see, hmm, how about we go shopping this afternoon!?”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhlKDO45G2
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzne5jAAKZ
“Ah, but maybe you want to spend time studying instead?” Ayane asked.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAuT2LVCaI
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XfuElZ0p9
Studying, huh…82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJGz9DSPv1
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5rPVTQsOF
“No, I have free time later,” I replied.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeL4H0wMux
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTB1dWhRnL
“That’s great!” Kanoko celebrated. “Omigosh, I’m so excited! I bet there are a lot of clothes that would look good on you.”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3GvOdyT9X
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5kHIuiWwO
“Do you have a makeup kit?” Ayane asked me.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2dwW17B3a
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLK5PcNN7N
“I… I don’t, I don’t even know how to use it,” I answered.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyXCYZARIH
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCepNNTfyb
“Then we will buy you one as well!” Kanoko replied. “I’m totally excited now! We’re going to teach you how to do makeup, too.”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjw9VjCXrwl
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nG8ebwXXi
“True!”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSh92IhVV6K
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYzoC2ovjr
“Oh no!” Kanoko suddenly yelled. “It’s almost time for school. If we walk, we’ll never make it in time!”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsTHqwMoEx
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XNHI6yHn8
“That’s because you were talking too much, Kan-chan,” Ayane replied.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWhGJf34g8
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJq2hm1qqe
“This again? Ayane-chi, you’re guilty of it too, you know!”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRaGDY91Z3R
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaDe38gZ6I
“Well, I was just excited about talking with Mii-chan.”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYW7TH6UbW
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BSpDi4O9m
“Right~”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOIG3oBEzi
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcAQk9I2Ip
“Right~”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUevQTGWuXM
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BcP6h1KR4
I laughed. What was with these two? They were like… fun to be with…
“Let’s go.” Kanoko offered her hand.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcFi1NEy33
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1lKarrEcI
“Okay,” I answered as I took her hand.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHmaHk4gI2
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZor8GwE13
Then we started running…
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczKZOSaPK7
—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGH7LzAtGKR
During breaks, Kanoko and Ayane would come talk to me. I would invite them to talk outside the classroom, but they never wondered why. They just talked with me enthusiastically like they did this morning. It was kind of refreshing. Finally, something to distract me from the awful things that had been bothering me all week.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKvZdyQ6iv
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhbM9iQLSB
When lunch break came, I saw Yui approach. I froze for a second. I didn’t think I was ready. But when would I be ready? Probably never. So I stood up and left the classroom, walking past her. Without looking. And because of that, I accidentally ignored Kanoko and Ayane’s invitation for lunch.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSAikX9Cca
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5NUsAmayg
I sighed.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9Cl2ZjAk9
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YLY3t7NDM
I was running again. No matter how much I tried, it didn’t seem like I was going to stop. When did I become like this? Why did I become like this? I could only blame Itsuki, but maybe I needed to look at myself more.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbeVBG4VJqD
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLq9clUFOTg
I decided to take my lunch at the back of the old school building. No one went there as far as I knew, and I remembered from last year when I somehow ended up at that place, that there were concrete stairs for the back entrance of the building. I thought that would be a perfect spot.
Yes… a perfect spot… perfect if not for this one person who was here first, sitting on one of the stairs, staring at me while I leaned back and stared at him awkwardly.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rSchIMNx6
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbMf0Ul1JL
“Are you going to have lunch here?” Kuroiwa-san asked.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfYAIl4UwM
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5QuFJViho
“N-no… I was just passing by…” I said, then I started avoiding his gaze.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTzddcx7Pm
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPZoeza0Ho
“At the back of the old school building?”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXdoHtUjVI
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHWBntcojV
“Y-yeah!” I yelled. “And since I am just passing by, I am going to leave. Goodbye,” I said as I turned the other way and started walking.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSuKcLMTrB
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqGnssl2gC
“There is plenty of space if you want to eat here,” Kuroiwa-san casually said.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqrYgzkn13
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6AdyeSCNuj
I stopped walking and turned back.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPdwb8FEEq
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1twG9uinS
“Well, if you insist on inviting me for lunch… then…” I replied. I carefully sat beside him.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9tyoypI6n
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiv57fJPeOe
“What I said was—”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwB3CIOxpz
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCoWywWu4i9
“I know! You don’t need to explain that you didn’t technically invite me!” I said. Why did he have to explain every technical thing? I mean, it was not like I didn’t like that side of him, but wouldn’t it have been better if he just let me sit down beside him quietly?82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieVVATlqH1
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3EUbLrBud
I sighed…82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFrykLnKnc
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OyvUg4Imp
“Sorry,” Kuroiwa-san said.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGV9LQ3Cy8X
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgkF0QefE8
I opened the bag I had with me and took out my lunch box. I placed it carefully on my lap. Kuroiwa-san’s lunch box was already open. He was in the middle of eating when I got here. I took a glance at it and the food he had looked perfectly cooked. Eggrolls and meatballs as side dishes, along with white rice to go with them.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYv871IXMi
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZq7GmSSoC
“Do you cook your own lunch?” I asked him.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8J6dfzA8J
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23vu0VlEj5
“Sometimes…” he answered.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3Q38HjO9i
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbK1PWDLL3i
“They actually look good. I didn’t know you could cook.”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXJjcebxFY
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtOWWhTYBs
“Do you want to try?” Kuroiwa-san said and I saw him pick an eggroll with his chopsticks.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkAkaBcgdW
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkMJe0HXHQ
W-w-w-what? W-w-w-was he going to feed me? I c-c-couldn’t…82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQl6IM6ZNs
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfygsaIMU1Z
“N-no!” I answered.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8eBwnKy1h
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcismb9xq4
“Alright,” Kuroiwa-san said and ate the eggroll he picked up.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWV4Bd6OehT
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nhbirw38F
I exhaled in relief. There was no way I would be able to handle that. I was not emotionally ready. I probably wouldn’t be at all if another of these circumstances appeared again, but… Why did I assume he was going to feed me anyway?82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa79ZVFcZl1
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQy92hOBfS
I exhaled in disbelief. But I smiled. It was only for a second, though, as my thoughts started to wander toward one of the things that I had been thinking about. I stared at my lunch box, still not open yet.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AEcb2xaKd
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswGPdrb9K0
“How about your study sessions with… Runa?” I asked him.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNlnmRe4EX
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAe6u0UK7O
“She hasn’t been going to my apartment lately,” Kuroiwa-san answered. “Ru—Miyase-san told her mother about you not going, and so she was forbidden to come.”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xQnlhb3aH
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bPfNZ1u8j
“I’m sorry.”
“What for?”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenL5UjKk3A
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xeZ2Df1Nu
“Because you did all that in front of Runa’s mother, I offered to help, but…”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVi0P50xM9
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aLy70YYxN
“Well, you volunteered. But you had no obligation to properly see it through. It’s not like we signed a contract after all.”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33eJ1I4v3I
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnXz1ZU5UH
“But still…” I hesitated. “Do you think I am more annoying now?”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡas3i9ZdBvN
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJUMOhdfTT
“Why?”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLR2yT266Bo
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3G93yoGOU
“Well, because of what I did last time. I just walked out with no explanation or anything.”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ894UTuJvSM
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCT4YOW8T2
Kuroiwa-san went silent. I was wondering what he was thinking, so I peeked to see his expression. I only saw his eyes moving, the way they always did when he was trying to think carefully.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57D7JhsqGZ
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENTnmgGFC1
“I don’t think so,” he finally said.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AjsnxpieY
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyqh7eO9qU
“Really?”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjmSWvJiZU
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4XqeYYZ71
“Yeah.”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6XT9XVKaj
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpUrGdlM1K
…82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBL2ozYANc
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscrhLryrkJ
“You know…” I hesitated. “I haven’t talked to Runa ever since,” I said.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeH9rZZL6S
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDZ6vcMcgi
Kuroiwa-san looked at me.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6VrubP29w
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lvf05CGTi
“I know she didn’t do anything wrong, but when we left your apartment, we had an argument. And since then, we have never talked. Yui tried to fix things between Runa and me. But I ran away. And even now I am still running away. We could probably get along again, if we talked. But… so many things have happened ever since then that I couldn’t think properly. I just didn’t know what to say… I don’t even know if I am ready… What do you think I should do?”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfRXJ9BPHC
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAbwSfBJuu
I told him. Why? For some reason, I just told him. And it felt… right…82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKTT3dZ6ny
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOu0YS7uX35
I continued to stare at my lunch box once again. I just waited. Did he care? Did I just bother him? I felt embarrassed. What was I thinking? Kuroiwa-san and I had not talked for just as long as I had with Runa. Yet, here I was, just spouting all these things that he had nothing to do with.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9iQuazwjr
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡloasK3Z6yn
What was I expecting? Really…82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqfPNu2Cb3
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKtrEiLXBq
“I’ll be honest,” Kuroiwa-san finally said. “I probably am the worst person for you to ask things about friends.”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAy5CZgsL94
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Ww6NPc49A
I had not considered that…82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvB3svdnER
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZwPlIvBd8
“But if I must answer your question, all I can do is think about it objectively,” Kuroiwa-san continued. “And objectively, I think there’s nothing wrong with not being ready yet.”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoXXHam7DV
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEi7loZ0lq
Nothing wrong?82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWGzJXAxdR
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡba7qDX47Yk
“What do you mean?” I asked. I glanced at him.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYJUR0NVKL
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPddtofc9x
“Think about it this way,” Kuroiwa-san replied. “You wouldn’t walk on a bridge with an unfinished foundation, would you?” He stared into my eyes. “If you are careful, you might be able to pass through. But one miscalculated weight put on one of your steps, and you would fall down.”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6V7WGuvEaF
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nnwUXWzzX
“That…” That actually made sense. But… “Don’t you think it’s better to talk things out now rather than later?”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6Xa3iMSDl
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOB3EHdPGQs
“But you mentioned you didn’t know what to say. Have you figured out what to say to Runa-san?”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHU9T9GnXm
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Cyg9kVsl9
I…82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Uuty09JiA
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZ9nEZ0E3F
“That’s why I think waiting until you are ready is the better solution,” Kuroiwa-san continued.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9QDZMPaqZ
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9prYNpeVt
“But… if I let things go like this and waited…” I clenched both my hands.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWXDelg0UP
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4lHWODZWe
“I could tell Runa-san about it if you want.”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGzqr4dkJw
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclP5imPiFt
This guy… How… Was it really that simple to him?82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh531IuBMfv
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMWqJS5aup
“I do agree that letting things go for long without proper maintenance would let rust break things apart. But for people who are on the opposite side of the unfinished bridge, there are always tools available for communication. You offered a solution to my request last time, so let me help you. Let me be that tool for both of you.” Kuroiwa-san continued.
I bit my lip. I felt tears welling up in my eyes. But I didn’t want to cry, because he might think I was sad. But I was happy. I turned my head to the opposite side so he couldn’t see me. I closed my eyes and took deep breaths. I pretended I was trying to wipe sweat, but I was actually preventing more tears from coming out.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9kDOCZu1P
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGygEeoej7
“Thank you,” I said. “And I’m sorry I had to ruin your study sessions together with Runa.”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPJ1lnsz15
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDEg7cb1ek
“You don’t need to worry. We’re still continuing our study sessions,” Kuroiwa-san replied.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkehh4YZqw
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fGvDdONJa
I glanced up at him slightly.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoZ3E2GXjS
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7hv0gOKM2
“How?” I asked.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZP6HophwE3
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfecafU5dUz
“Miyase-san—”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00ctj7HQpl
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIPNACcAob
“Just call her the way you always do.” I frowned.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7BCQUnbcM
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYp0d3wHBER
“Ru-Runa-san asked me to download an app, and we use that app to video call at night to study.”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnq0smhjbeA
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYtNOLdueV
“Which app?”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLlx5rM2KU
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzqgknIxKY
“Let me see,” Kuroiwa-san said as he put his free hand in his pocket. A moment later, his hand came out with his phone. He turned on the screen and then showed me.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecYqYqEl11
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFfnx8M3Kx
“Line…” I said, naming the app.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIdzJDaVRo
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQHbPMFnlN
“Apparently.”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpbqANLCRe
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0jCOSx2oy
“Add me too,” I whispered.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWkItwmacg
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UyMkOKe92
“Tojo-san?”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5p7IhjsMPk
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1NPD041tt
“I said, add me too!” I took his phone by reflex and opened the app. I started to create a QR code for his Line. I took out my phone from my pocket and scanned the code. When the notification came in, I smiled and returned his phone to him.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8Poib4GYA
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmAEGWnhu5
He looked at me like he didn’t know what to do.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAkd6YeH87
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRFDmCwJtV
“Thank you,” Kuroiwa-san said instead as he took back his phone.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlae9cgZC4N
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fzojdNvNd
“You’re welcome,” I smiled at him. “Also, call me by my first name from now on?”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQeW4jLLURX
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHrhT3H3nW
“Hmm?”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0iOEy5rUXE
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSw2c1J7OU
I stared into his eyes. “Just say it,” I said.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjp8q1hrPAk
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyLeYyhilu
“That’s a bit too sudden,” Kuroiwa-san said. I searched for a change of expression, but his eyes were looking at mine like always. No blush, no surprised reaction, his voice still flat.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAWHglx5cl
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGDljDXyEX
I sighed.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWRyCYiSNS
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8tSeHZkix
“Never mind then,” I replied. I felt defeated.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqAGSyoCyh
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVIoV9sdR2
“Mika-san?”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5wMFkJlFl
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkas9ssNZ4l
“Eh?”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6R2MmhKcg
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMAbJCmvCQ
“I don’t think I had any reason to decline.”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJMg45XXYU
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQwDLmuRsd
My eyes widened. I tried to hide my smile as I felt it start growing too wide. I turned my eyes away from him.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxekUB5It5
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEn6vGi8DW
“Um… yeah, well… then… um… what do you want me to call you?” I asked.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xRdCqbYoS
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCO87S1T3n
“You can call me however you like.”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouniQmOEHK
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeXYfuiXjk
I thought about it for a moment. Rei? Rei-kun? Rei-chan? All of them were his name, just with different honorifics. I wanted something that felt like it was just for me… and him…82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpfW9SF1Td
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRF4epgxzw
“Then… Kuro… I’ll call you Kuro-kun from now on,” I said.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFWLVtqJT4
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLe1QMzr7a
“...That… makes me feel like I am a cat…” Kuro-kun replied.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqiRzZiGjdf
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hRYLfaSgH
I glanced at him.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRA5FXxI4TV
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwU534qcMt
“Well, it fits you,” I said.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjKyRo1kLY
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfT9nuWlAM
“Well, I guess it's fine,” Kuro-kun answered.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijXH1CiaCg
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOHDmuVY6L
“Kuro-kun…” I muttered to myself.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkW367N218
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4Izq6cuA5
“What is it, Mika-san?”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZgXDXpEGw
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4Yb4JEeUZ
“Nothing, hehehe.”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rBVSuPaFp
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOGb3jlctG
I opened my lunch box finally. Then I pressed both my hands together.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2K0zZulDGs
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6j4MTKe4V4
“Thanks for the food,” I said, still smiling.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUTtgZqKtC
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSJpYflOOf
I just let what I was feeling at that moment marinate in me through silence.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnWJZBEk84
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8PKwEb4nQ
“Say…”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzysjONSZi
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUM2cLqAcz
“Mika-san?”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwk2fKpzph
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDMqIpxMYk
“Do you always come here for lunch?”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlurB40tSD
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Bek51Ta5X
“Yeah.”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2tLYHe6Co
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1o0YmGfOM
“Do you mind if I start to come here as well?”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwd0huwi9pG
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jCFv2u3Ti
“Well, how many times are you going to pass by the old school building?”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKBbSeTskU
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3ejhyn4PV
“Then, from now on… I’ll be passing by every day,” I said as I took the first bite of my lunch.
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXYQp9du5n
—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxH0ZlboZz
That afternoon, as promised, I went out together with Kanoko and Ayane. We were still on our way to the train station from school, but for some reason, I started to feel excited as well.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR18AuQOgWv
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYtg6G5Gnu
“Look at her, Kan-chan,” Ayane said beside me. “Mii-chan has been grinning from ear to ear since after lunch.”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0iKevg1wcm
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSs95fATD6t
“Huh?” I reacted. I used my bag to cover my face from them. “Don’t look at me,” I muttered.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqt5jdXwPP
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgoeezRp34
“Oh em gee, Mika-chi. Did something happen? Did you meet with the boy during lunch? The one you said you were thinking about?” Kanoko said.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5rx9EiPYx
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBz2MBFeiI6
“I— No— just, no—”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWb1t6oCSK
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qfGeSlyvA
“Definitely a boy,” Ayane whispered to Kanoko.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxJKOASZa8
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOV2YrvqGt2
“Totally,” Kanoko whispered back.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytqEW0Qg5b
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVosy8F8z7U
“The purpose of shopping now has changed.”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvsdFGY5NL
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvAXcfDnKA
“Right~ It’s time to make Mika-chi look gorgeous. This boy would totally swoon over her.”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV00Gt79DnE
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwl8GdpQjYG
I kept my smile behind my bag. Then I lowered it to reveal my eyes. I looked at both of them, who were very excited, talking about possible combinations of clothes, accessories, and makeup.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bd3Fkdnkx
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqmaaFjeGz
“Kanoko… Ayane…” I said.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jbcRtbIXE
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxuOcXcMDk
“Ayane-chi,” Ayane corrected me.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AiXBP7fA7
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXwcQ235Tc
“Umm, right… Ayane-chi… Will you really teach me how to apply makeup?” I asked.
“Don’t worry, Mii-chan, leave it to us!” Ayane replied to me.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZEoSV2SyK
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDDVxLXTXj
“Gosh, girl. You’re totally in love! I knew it!” Kanoko cheered.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDCPVmOrX4
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuSXE3AN27
“I…” I hesitated. “To be honest, I don’t really know myself. I’m still trying to figure things out.”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlSxlXtkE5
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCkoj5pi75
I stared at them, and both of them had that mischievous smile.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcx2JsjrYrK
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KuQ8Gm3y2
“You’re so totally adorable, Mika-chi!” Kanoko yelled as she hugged me. She was taller than me, enough to rub her cheek against my forehead.
I didn’t like that, but it somehow felt warm.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpiAn0LUq0
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUTV96Gwbf
“Mii-chan, do you want to take things slow?” Ayane asked.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Y2GXfUQa4
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbwOI1SJYN
“Mhm.” I nodded. “I want to be sure first.”82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDR6HvM3H0
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjyqGy7vKw
“Then we’ll support you!” Ayane said.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdFJVg3kck
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkElKntrVf0
“Totally! I mean, we’re like friends now, right? So we will definitely support you, Mika-chi,” Kanoko added.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkAN8b6jCx
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZh8HoOUc8
“Thank you,” I replied.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpNyOzBs0R
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCcSffDHYq
The conversation continued with a different topic. Kanoko and Ayane talked about male idol groups, but I wasn’t able to relate. Yet they would always ask me questions and let me be part of the conversation. Sometimes Kanoko would talk continuously, but still…82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWybBrnEuDs
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadEBDgQ3IL
This morning, I thought this day would end the same as yesterday. Instead, I found new friends. And somehow, people found me, which led me to find a way to continue walking forward.
and then Add to home screen.