Chapter 10: Toudou Tsuyoshi’s Everyday Life
During lunch break, I’m eating bread alone in the classroom today. Tanaka was called to the staff room, and Hanazono seems to have some student council duties for the sports festival.
Before, I used to feel lonely eating alone. But not anymore. Even when I’m by myself, I feel connected to the important people in my life.
And I’ve started to get a little closer to the others in the class as well.
“Eh? Toudou-kun, Tanaka-san isn’t here today? Then, Toudou-kun, let’s have lunch together! Ehehe, your little sister would love that, right?”
The one who approached me is Tougo Reika. She’s the soft-spoken younger sister of my classmate Tougo Toudou.
“Tch, I don’t mind. Hey, you brat! Don’t eat my fried chicken!”
As always, Tougo Toudou is making a ruckus.
“Shut up, what’s yours is mine!”
“That’s half-eaten, damn it!”
“I-it’s not like I’m flustered or anything! As a mature lady like myself, I wouldn’t get worked up over something like that!”
The one teasing Tougo is Tendō Fuyumi. She’s an idol, and her personality sometimes changes. She really likes Tougo.
“Ahaha, it’s a bit noisy, but it’s fun, right? Come on, come on, Toudou-kun, join us over here.”
“Uh, okay.”
It’s like a relationship straight out of a novel, these three. Seems like they both have feelings for Tougo. I hope he doesn’t get stuck in the middle.
“Oi, what’s up. I got a baked soba bread too. Since I don’t have practice today, I’ll eat here. Hinata, Hazama, come over this way.”
Ryuugasaki who returned to the classroom is calling out to Hinata,
who was fiddling with a PC, and Hazama, who was napping on the desk. She stares at me as if observing me, then nods her head. Hazama, who has been sleeping on the desk, wakes up with a start.
And so, the entire E-class special classroom gathered, except for Tanaka.
For some reason, Tougo is making a fist-pumping gesture.
“Alright! I didn’t know how to talk to Toudou since I’m socially awkward, and Tanaka’s scary, you know?”
“You’re not socially awkward! Next time, let’s invite Tanaka-san to eat with us too.”
“Ah, hey, Toudou, you’re not from the slums, are you? You give off a weird vibe. That’s why it was hard for me to approach you.”
Slums…? This is Japan. Such a thing shouldn’t exist here, but…
“My hometown is around here. Not a slum. Hmm, so Tougo was cautious of me.”
“Well, you’re probably fine. Anyway, let’s eat!”
“Hey, Reika! That’s my mini-hamburger!!”
As Reika takes Tendō’s hamburger, Hinata sits down next to me.
“…Toudou, I want to do an experiment. Is that okay?”
“E-experiment? I’d rather you don’t…”
The distance between them was close. Hinata’s eyes behind her glasses were shining brightly.
“Hinata, Toudou is having trouble, you know. Everyone is so talented, unlike me~”
“Huh? That’s an old man thing to say, Hazama. You’re the scariest one here, you know.”
Quite a lively lunch it was. I nodded as I ate my yakisoba bread. Suddenly, I had a thought.
“Oh yeah, does the special class not participate in the sports festival?”
ToTsuyoshi, who was patting Reika’s head, answered.
“Huh? Now that you mention it, yeah, we’ve never been to the sports festival. Isn’t that just a regular class event?”
“Big brother, it said in the handout that the special class can join if there are enough volunteers. But most special class students are busy, so few participate.”
“I see, I understand now. So they can join if they want to…”
The sports festival, huh. I was a bit interested. My middle school memories weren’t great, but maybe I’ll find something new.
Hanazono had said she was on the executive committee. I wonder if they’re done already? I’ll drop by her classroom while returning the book I borrowed from Sasaki.
After finishing my bread, I said goodbye to ToTsuyoshi and the others and headed to the regular classrooms.
As I walked through the hallway, I saw Sasami with her female track and field club friends. She had introduced me to one of them before – a girl named Nakajima.
Our eyes met, and Sasami greeted me with a bright smile and a bow. Her bashful expression made her look even more childlike.
Holding hands with Nakajima, they disappeared into the restroom together.
Sasami looked very natural. She had a slightly tired expression, but it was probably just my imagination.
The stiff mask she used to wear had peeled off. She still has a lot of difficulties, but if she keeps pushing forward, she’ll be fine. She’s just like me.
…And then, I spotted a strange person.
“Why are you here…?”
Shimafuji was wandering in front of the ladies’ restroom. His hair looked much neater and tidier.
My guard went up to the max. But Shimafuji looked a bit odd.
“Ah, Toudou. Well, I’m a student here now, despite all that’s happened. But that’s not important. Have you seen Sasami?”
“Sasami? Could it be that you’re trying to get close to my acquaintance–“
“Forget those trivial matters. Ah, Sasami, Nakajima!”
Ignoring me, he headed towards Sasami and Nakajima as they came out of the restroom.
…What is going on here?
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“Hey, Shimafuji, why are you following me to the restroom!?”
“Ah, I was lonely without Sasami, you see.”
“Th-That’s dangerous! I was worried you might attack her, so I was keeping watch as her bodyguard.”
“You’re a stalker, idiot!”
“…I’m sorry.”
Scolded by Sasami, Shimafuji looked dejected.
“It’s okay. You should just be honest when you feel lonely, you know.”
“Understood.”
“Ehehe, you two look like you’re having fun!”
Nakajima watched the interaction between Sasami and Shimafuji with a motherly gaze.
“Hmph, I brought a bento today, inspired by a Tsuyoshirmet manga. Ah, was it not necessary?”
“Geez, you’re so unpredictable… Shimafuji, don’t mope, let’s go together. …Shimafuji’s cooking is delicious, you know.”
“Ah!”
The three of them left. I could only watch them go.
What is this?
…Well, I don’t know Shimafuji’s purpose, but it seems like there’s no problem for now. I should just take care of my own business.
I went back to the regular classroom to return the book to Sasaki. Michiba was chatting happily with her female friends.
Her expression, freed from the thorns, was stunningly beautiful.
Noticing me entering the classroom, she looked up and greeted me with a soft smile.
I nodded back in response.
I headed towards Sasaki’s desk.
Sasaki waved at me, welcoming me.
“Hey, hey, Toudou. There’s been a lot of talk about this really cute first-year, and it seems to be Sasami. Did something happen? I heard she was holding hands with a track and field club member…Ufufu, what a lovely yuri couple…”
“It’s good that they’re close. …By the way, is this book about girls falling in love with each other? I still don’t quite understand…”
Igarashi-kun also came to the classroom to see Sasaki.
I chatted casually with the two of them, and thinking I shouldn’t disturb their conversation, I left the classroom.
Still, I’m glad. I never imagined Sasami would change so much… She’s definitely become cuter. Seeing her reminds me of the cat I used to be friends with. She had a cute face too. While Michiba really does resemble a dog.
…There’s time before the next class starts. I’ll head to Hanazono’s class and ask about the sports festival. If she’s not there, I can consult with Tokita-sensei. But with Shimizu in that class, it’s hard to go in…According to Sasami, he used to be a normal boy too. I wonder what changed him? …Humans are really complicated.
I cautiously peeked into the classroom to check on Shimizu-kun.
Shimizu-kun was chatting with his male friends. The atmosphere was calm and the tension was gone. I’m glad he wasn’t stabbed. It seems he’s quite popular with the guys. The boys around Shimizu-kun are unusually close… It’s like that book Sasaki-san is holding. Hmm, I’ll just pretend I didn’t see that.
When I saw the figure of someone with Hanazono behind the podium, I felt a tightness in my chest.
Hanazono was chatting with a male student.
Since I was looking from behind, I couldn’t see their expressions.
They looked very cheerful–
It’s not strange for Hanazono to have male friends. In fact, if this had been me in the past, I wouldn’t have been interested in who Hanazono was talking to.
But now, it’s different. Of course, I think it’s good that Hanazono has male friends.
However, the atmosphere around the other person is different from that of a regular friend.
–That’s–a feeling of affection towards Hanazono.
When I looked closely at the student talking to Hanazono, I realized it was a senpai.
I had only talked to him once before… when I handed Hanazono’s love letter to him. The memory of my past mistake is still painful.
One of Hanazono’s female friends noticed me and said something to Hanazono. Hanazono turned around.
Her face had a slightly flustered expression. I don’t like seeing Hanazono make that kind of face. No, I don’t want her to make that face.
Mido-senpai came over to me.
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