“By the way, what were you talking about earlier, Yoshiki? I thought I heard my name.”
“J-just now? We were talking about how you and Nikaido are quite different.”
Yuzuha blinked.
“…Ehhh!? What’s that, I’m shocked! Does that mean you were badmouthing me!?”
“Huh!? No, no, that’s not it!”
Yuzuha protested as if astounded.
Since we weren’t really badmouthing her, I decided to answer honestly.
“We were saying how you can really talk to anyone, while Nikaido has a somewhat unapproachable aura! It’s just about the atmosphere, and we concluded that having such prejudices isn’t good!”
“Ugh… I guess mine could be prejudice too… But at least it wasn’t an insult…”
“Isn’t Yuzuha’s not prejudice? The class runs smoothly thanks to her after all.”
“…It pisses me off when you say things so directly. Even if you flatter me, I don’t feel anything special.”
Despite saying that, Yuzuha turned away abruptly.
She seemed embarrassed, but it’s probably best not to mention it.
If Takeru saw this, he’d probably faint from how cute she is.
As I was inadvertently staring at her, Yuzuha suddenly turned back to me as if she had just thought of something.
“By the way, Nikaido-san is an acquaintance of yours, right? What kind of person was Nikaido-san in the past?”
“Ah, she was a bit like you. A leader type in the class.”
“Hmm. …So, who has known you longer, me or Nikaido-san?”
“That’s… probably Nikaido.”
“What!? You traitor!!”
“Whoa!? Can’t help it, she’s my childhood friend!”
Yuzuha shook my shoulders vigorously.
In middle school, when she first touched me like this, I felt happy thinking she had finally opened up to me.
Maybe it’s creepy of me to think about that at a time like this.
“Did you just say childhood friend?”
Yuzuha asked, seemingly surprised.
I returned my gaze to Yuzuha.
Somehow, she felt different from her usual self.
Yuzuha removed her hands from my shoulders and stared at me intently.
“W-What is it?”
Yuzuha’s expression was stern.
Her artificial light-golden hair sparkled as it reflected the sunlight.
Would Yuzuha of all people say something like “Nikaido kinda pisses me off”? …No, no, Yuzuha isn’t that mean-spirited.
As I was thinking this, Yuzuha’s expression suddenly changed to a smile filled with curiosity.
“Wow, wait… I just realized. Could it be that Nikaido-san is the childhood friend who had a thing with you?”
“…That’s not it.”
“Haha, I came here to ask about your relationship, but I was completely clueless! You should’ve texted me when she transferred in, I missed out on something interesting!”
“Listen to me!”
In response to my reply, Yuzuha smirked.
“Yoshiki, your reaction gives it away. You know, when an opposite-sex childhood friend transfers in, that alone is enough to spark a romance. It’s actually a lucky event for others to find out like this, isn’t it good?”
“Is that so…? I’ve only seen that kind of thing in anime and manga.”
“Me too.”
“Then how could you think that!? Reality isn’t that sweet!”
As I retorted loudly, Yuzuha sat down in the seat where Takeru had been sitting.
Then, in contrast to before, she began speaking with a serious expression.
What kind of emotions does this gal have?
“Last month, because I talked to you a lot, strange rumors started, right? I was really worried that things might get awkward between us because of that.”
“Yet you still talk to me normally…”
“I told you last week, I live my life prioritizing fun. That’s why I jump into situations that smell like fun. Besides, why should I have to hold back from talking to you?”
Yuzuha pouted slightly.
Prioritizing fun.
This is probably why Yuzuha is called the sun of the class, but I feel a bit nervous about her interest continuing to be directed at me.
Maybe I don’t want Yuzuha to see through the fact that there’s no substance to my existence.
“So I’m relieved that you’re childhood friends with Nikaido-san. Putting aside whether you two have a thing or not, if you talk a lot with Nikaido-san, it won’t stand out as much when you talk to me.”
“Ah… So that’s what you were thinking about. I’m sorry about that. You must have hated those rumors too.”
— “Yuzuha Yui’s boyfriend is surprisingly ordinary.”
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
Towards the end, that’s what people started whispering.
From my perspective, it might have been an upgrade, but for Yuzuha, it must have felt like a downgrade.
“What are you saying? I didn’t mind the rumors at all. I only denied them because you seemed uninterested.”
“Ugh… Your kindness is almost painful at this point…”
In response to my words, Yuzuha’s expression softened.
“I’m serious though.”
She stared at me intently.
Her translucent skin and long, wet eyelashes.
“…Your kindness is bottomless. As expected of the class’s sun.”
“…That’s right. I’ll shine on you, Yoshiki.”
“Hahaha.”
My relationship with Yuzuha.
Rather than being close friends, others might see it as her paying special attention to me.
So, I too–
“Well, I understand what you’re trying to say, Yuzuha. A romance with Nikaido might be impossible, but I’ll try to talk to her like we used to. That way, I’ll be more fitting as your friend.”
To be recognized by others as Yuzuha’s true friend, I need something to catch up to her.
The reason why my conversations with Yuzuha stood out unpleasantly was because we weren’t on equal footing.
Remi’s presence will surely help in such situations.
Of course, I want to keep such ulterior motives to less than one percent in my relationship with Remi.
I was able to talk earlier on impulse, but now I need various reasons to muster the courage to talk to Remi.
“…How about some advice from me, who you just recognized as a friend?”
Yuzuha narrowed her eyes slightly and spoke with a hint of displeasure.
When I hurriedly put my palms together saying “That’s not what I meant!”, Yuzuha snorted.
Then, as if regaining her composure, she smirked.
“You know, I don’t think a romance between you and Nikaido-san is impossible.”
“Huh? Why?”
When I asked, Yuzuha laughed proudly for some reason.
Then, with a look of certainty, she raised her index finger.
— Yuzuha’s expression had a nostalgic feeling.
The rumors I heard in elementary school, the person who told me those had the same expression.
“When lunch break started, you left the classroom right away, right? Nikaido-san kept watching you with her eyes.”
If rumors are rumors, then subjective views are subjective views.
But the fact that just hearing such a story makes me want to rejoice proves that the simplicity of boys must exceed girls’ expectations.
As soon as Ms. segawa announced the end of the final homeroom, the chime rang throughout the classroom.
While everyone else started to get up, I remained seated, listening to the chime until the very end.
It’s not that I find the sound of the chime particularly pleasant.
For me, who wants to walk home alone with my childhood friend for the first time in a long time, this is necessary time.
“Remi-chan, do you have any plans after school? By the way, your inner hair color is so cute, which salon did you go to!?”
“Remi-remi, come check out our club! The volleyball club is all friendly and fun!”
Normally, seeing Remi surrounded by everyone like this would be a welcome sight.
But for me, who was waiting, it wasn’t something I could welcome.
“Nikaido, your name characters are so cool~ Where are you from? How do you know Yoshiki-kun?”
“Yeah, Nikaido-san and Yoshiki seem pretty close, don’t they!”
…Yeah, I don’t have the courage to pull her out of that situation.
Today, when this childhood friend transferred in, is the only day I can walk home with Remi without standing out.
With the pretext of already knowing each other, no one would find it strange if I invited her to walk home together now.
On the flip side, if I miss this chance today, there’s a high possibility of being exposed to curious glances.
When rumors about my relationship with Yuzuha spread, they ended because of Yuzuha’s popularity and her directly saying, “Hey, the rumors going around are totally wrong.”
But Remi is a transfer student.
There’s no guarantee that rumors won’t develop into troublesome situations.
“Ugh… This is the worst…”
Seeing more and more girls gathering around Remi, I couldn’t help but sigh.
I had planned to naturally get closer to Remi by talking to Yuzuha, but that gal rushed to my seat as soon as the final homeroom ended, said “Well, good luck!” and disappeared from the classroom.
Hanazono left alone as if it was natural, and it would be clearly unnatural to keep staring at Remi’s seat like this.
…I guess I have to give up.
Just as I thought that, Takeru in the seat in front of me turned around while slinging his bag over his shoulder.
“Hey, hey, hey, why are you sighing? You’re so blessed!”
“If going home alone is blessed, then you enjoying your club activities are super blessed. You becoming the ace is due to your own efforts though.”
“Ah, that? Indeed, we’re even on that front!”
Takeru said cheerfully. Don’t be in such a good mood over that.
As I was roughly stuffing my textbooks into my bag, I sighed again.
“Hey.”
“What is it?”
Remi was in front of me.
“Wha-!? Why are you in this manly area, I thought you were Takeru!”
“That’s rude to me!?”
Takeru interjected from the front.
When I looked at Remi’s seat, all the girls who had been crowding around were now looking at us curiously.
I wish this childhood friend would realize that everyone’s eyes are on her.
“Yoshiki-kun Is your job as guide continuing after school too?”
“Huh? Ah, yeah. Well, let’s see…”
I try to organize my panicking thoughts.
That’s right, I had the excellent excuse of being her guide.
To be honest, I hardly did any guiding today, and we even spent lunch break separately.
Moreover, from the second period break, the girls in the class started guiding her, leaving no work for me at all.
The teacher didn’t even ask me to guide her after school.
But still, this is a chance to quickly restore our relationship from back then.
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