“Yes.”
A voice as serene as a droplet falling onto a still water surface spread through the classroom.
I abruptly stopped myself from talking to Takeru.
Whenever she spoke up in class, the atmosphere clearly changed.
When Yuzuha spoke in front of everyone, the air became cheerful, but this was a different kind of atmosphere.
I want to hear every word she says.
Perhaps because many students felt this way, everyone’s behavior became noticeably quieter.
In the daily life of our class, probably only she could create this kind of atmosphere.
“Hanazono-san, right? Please go ahead.”
Hanazono lightly shook her light brown bob and stood up.
Yuka Hanazono.
The girl I had (supposedly) gotten along well with in our third year of middle school.
We had gone to different middle schools, but by chance, we attended the same cram school for a while.
In the end, I couldn’t take that one step further, and we gradually grew apart.
Almost no one in this high school knows that Hanazono and I went to the same cram school. Our current classmates probably wouldn’t believe that we had any interaction.
As these thoughts ran through my mind, Hanazono quietly began to speak.
“—Hearing his words, I felt strangely fulfilled. The world that I had thought was all an illusion suddenly regained its color—”
The teacher’s instruction was simply to read aloud a passage from a story.
Each line of narration, each dialogue, was as pleasant as a song.
Though her voice was quiet, it strangely lingered in the ear.
Hanazono’s voice had a charm that made it seem like you could hear it even in the midst of a commotion.
“Thank you. Your voice is enchanting,”
the teacher praised, whether aware of Hanazono’s position or not.
Hanazono relaxed her cheeks and quietly bowed.
The boys were also gazing at Hanazono with intense admiration, albeit for different reasons.
…I really used to be on speaking terms with that Yuka Hanazono, didn’t I?
It’s almost hard for me to believe now.
When I found out we were going to the same high school, I secretly rejoiced and even did a little dance.
Ending up in the same class like this is incredibly lucky for me.
And yet, even though we’re in such close proximity, I haven’t been able to talk to her at all.
It’s because Hanazono has become unexpectedly popular and seems unapproachable.
…No, that’s not quite right.
Maybe after entering the same high school and being in the same class, I’ve realized the true distance between Hanazono and me.
My belief that “if I had just confessed, we might have dated” is now likely just a fantasy.
The cram school was a different community from our regular school, with far fewer mutual acquaintances. That’s probably why we were able to talk back then.
Still—as long as I don’t try to confirm it with her directly, there’s a slim chance that my hopeful interpretation could be correct.
That’s why living in a world of imagination suits me best.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
As the Japanese language class ended, almost everyone stood up at once.
Yes, it was the long-awaited lunch break.
Those eager to make the most of their lunch break started chattering loudly, filling the classroom with dozens of voices. The hallway was just as noisy.
“Phew…”
My seat is located at the very back, next to the hallway.
In other words, it’s the closest to the exit. During class, it’s the best seat because it’s hard for the teacher to make eye contact, but during breaks, it turns into an awkward seat caught up in the hallway commotion.
With students constantly passing behind me to enter or leave the classroom, it’s hard to relax.
“Lunch time!”
Takeru stood up with an absurdly loud monologue.
Over Takeru’s shoulder, I could see Yuzuha’s group.
The two girls standing on either side of Yuzuha were also quite attractive—they’d probably stand out in any other class—and the sight was a bit dazzling to me.
The three members of Yuzuha’s group moved forward, coming behind me.
As I was organizing my textbooks in my desk, not paying attention, my chair suddenly jolted.
“Ouch!”
“Ah, sorry! I did it again!”
I turned around to see Yuzuha sticking her tongue out.
“How many times is this just this month?! You’re definitely doing it on purpose!”
Hearing my complaint, Yuzuha pouted and shot back.
“Geez, why don’t you worry about me too?! It’s your fault for just sitting in that seat!”
“It’s my assigned seat?!”
“Details, details! That’s why you can’t get a girlfriend!”
“That’s different from what you said this morning!!”
Yuzuha stuck out her tongue again with a “bleh” and disappeared into the hallway.
I heard a girl’s voice from behind saying, “Stop with the married couple comedy act~”
Conversations with Yuzuha often become opportunities to break the ice with others around us.
It’s actually quite nice when the members of Yuzuha’s group smile at our exchanges with amusement. I’ll call it even for today.
Thinking this, I prepared my lunchbox to follow Takeru.
That’s when it happened.
A floral scent tickled my nostrils.
I looked up—and saw Yuka Hanazono approaching from the front.
“…Wow”
A muffled voice escaped me involuntarily.
…Hanazono had matured a bit since middle school and become even cuter.
Maybe that’s why I’ve barely been able to exchange words with her since we ended up in the same class.
While I was caught up in this pointless analysis, Hanazono kept getting closer.
…Could it be that she’s going to talk to me?
As the distance between Hanazono and me shrank to just a few dozen centimeters, I felt a glimmer of hope.
But Hanazono passed by without even looking at me.
I felt a slight breeze on my back, and then Hanazono’s presence was gone.
“…Of course”
I muttered quietly.
Since starting high school, Hanazono hasn’t spoken to me once.
The relationship between Hanazono and me is what you’d call estranged.
It’s not like we had a falling out or anything.
Even the reason we stopped talking was trivial.
We simply changed cram schools and found it harder to meet, coupled with the busyness of high school entrance exams—unavoidable reasons.
After hesitating whether to follow Hanazono, I retreated to organizing my textbooks.
Even though I had already finished tidying up, I took out my textbooks again and put them back to kill time.
…I’m such a coward.
I know that if I don’t talk to her first, this estranged relationship with Hanazono won’t end. I understand that.
But if I had the personality to muster up that courage on my own, I probably would have talked to her already.
“Yosshi”
Now, hardly anyone knows that Hanazono and I used to be close, and if I suddenly started talking to her, it would draw unwanted attention.
“Yosshi?”
So, there’s nothing I can do about it.
While recognizing that this line of thinking is just an excuse, I still can’t bring myself to take action.
…I know this is exactly why I’m a coward.
“Hey, Yosshi”
I felt a light tap on my right shoulder and turned towards the hallway.
Hanazono was peeking in from the hallway, looking at me.
“…Huh? H-Hanazono?”
Hanazono seemed a bit hesitant but entered the classroom again.
For some reason, she was holding a stack of documents in both hands.
“Sorry. If you don’t mind, could you help me take these to the staff room…?”
“Oh, uh… Yeah. Sure, okay”
I stumbled over my words but agreed without hesitation. I did agree, right?
Hearing my response, Hanazono’s face relaxed with relief.
“Thanks”
“N-No problem…”
…Is this for real?
For the first time since starting high school, she spoke to me.
Even though we’ve barely talked these past few months.
The documents are probably a request from a teacher, but right now, I’m just grateful.
If I hadn’t had that little squabble with Yuzuha, I might have already left my seat. Thinking about it, I almost want to thank that blonde gyaru too.
As I stand up from my seat, I realize my heart is fluttering.
It feels like some gears are starting to turn again.
After delivering the documents to the teacher, on our way back from the staff room.
Walking side by side with Hanazono in the hallway.
Just that is enough to make the familiar hallway seem unusually vibrant, and I shake my head vigorously from side to side.
Calm down, me.
The reason I feel more eyes on us than when I walk alone is because Hanazono is next to me.
Everyone is looking at me only because I’m with Hanazono, not because they’re interested in me alone.
It’s natural for Hanazono to attract attention.
Even I can’t help but glance at her as we walk side by side.
I keep shifting my gaze to Hanazono, then looking forward whenever I think our eyes might meet.
As I repeat this stupid motion, our eyes finally meet.
“Huh?”
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