“I don’t really know anything about the current you, do I?”
“…Huh? Of course not, it’s been a while since we last met.”
Remi answered with a puzzled voice.
“That’s why I’m asking, but did you have any experiences in middle school?”
“‘You too’? Did something happen to you, Ryota? I didn’t have anything special happen.”
“Ugh…”
She used to be a childhood friend I could talk to about anything, just like Hanazono.
But now, the feeling of not wanting to worry her won out.
Sensing the unfavorable turn in the conversation, I decided to change the subject.
“Me neither. By the way, Remi, what club are you planning to join? You know our school requires joining a club in principle, with some exceptions.”
At my question, Remi’s eyebrows moved slightly.
She glanced at me, then quickly looked forward again.
“…I’m still undecided. I didn’t originally plan on joining any club.”
“I-I see.”
“What club are you in, Ryota? Are you still playing handball?”
“Me? I’m kind of the ace of the go-home club.”
Remi blinked in surprise.
“What do you mean ‘kind of’? That’s not something someone who’s actually in a club would say. What happened to the school’s principle? Did you quit handball?”
“It’s not that big of a deal…”
“I’m not praising you! Answer the questions properly, you haven’t responded to either of them!”
Remi glared at me again, her tone becoming stronger.
But to me, who was now fully reminded of our childhood friend days, she just looked beautiful.
Unless she uses her beauty and figure as weapons, it won’t affect me.
Remi seemed to sense that her glare had no effect on me, and with a half-resigned sigh, she opened her mouth.
“Forget it. You don’t seem willing to say anything, so I won’t pry any further.”
“Hey, why are you angry?”
“I’m not angry. Ask that question again and I’ll hit you.”
“Scary!”
Remi replied in a fully displeased tone.
Maybe because there were no other students around, my childhood friend I knew was completely there.
“In that case, I think I’ll be fine staying in the go-home club for a while. My time with Ryota will probably be limited to going to and from school anyway.”
“Oh, that sounds like we’ll be commuting together from now on.”
“That’s the plan.”
I let out an “Eh?”
It’s not that I dislike it, but when a boy and girl frequently commute together, they inevitably stand out.
“Is it okay for you to commute with me, Remi?”
“Nobody said it would be every day. Our houses are next to each other, so I just thought we might end up together like this sometimes. …What, are you dissatisfied?”
As Remi narrowed her eyes, I hurriedly shook my head.
“No, no, I meant people might get the wrong idea if they see us! Of course it’s a plus for me!”
When I explained, Remi had a surprised expression.
“Oh, you’re worried about that. It’s not a problem at all. Besides, it’s a plus, huh?”
“Well, we’re childhood friends… I guess it’s fine as long as it’s not a bother.”
“That’s not what I meant. From others’ perspective, we don’t match, so they won’t get the wrong idea.”
“Whaaaat!?”
I raised my voice without thinking, and a dog being walked a few meters away barked.
Remi continued without seeming to mind at all.
I really want to demand an explanation.
“Well, I’m glad it’s okay to be in the go-home club. I would’ve been troubled if they told me to join a club.”
“What you said earlier sounded like I’m the one who doesn’t match up!?”
“Isn’t that how others would see it?”
“Guh!”
I take massive damage from the counter-punch after she changed the subject.
Although I made an exaggeratedly dramatic gesture, it pretty much reflected my inner feelings.
Damn, is everything Seira said true?
As I was feeling down, Remi chuckled, seeming somewhat refreshed.
“Don’t get depressed. I watched you all day yesterday, and I could tell your reputation in class is pretty good. It’s just that my reputation is going to get even better, to the point where no one will misunderstand. So far, how am I doing as a transfer student?”
“So you were deliberately acting… You’ve got quite the personality.”
In response to my reply, Remi smiled casually and said, “Right?”
While witnessing her smile that had become gentler than before, I pondered.
…So she really was watching me all day.
It’s just as Yuzuha said yesterday.
— Nikaido-san was always following Yoshiki with her eyes.
But if I react positively here, she’ll instantly see through my feelings.
A strange pride interferes, and I put on a nonchalant face.
“Well, whatever. Let’s get back to the topic, why don’t you want to join a club, Remi?”
To my question, Remi’s eyes crinkled as if she saw right through me.
As I maintained my standby posture, Remi finally answered.
“…To be honest, I just feel like I want more time to myself. I was in a club in middle school, but if I believe what you say, the rules here are just for show. I thought I’d join the go-home club and see how things go for now.”
“Hmm, I see. Well, that might work too.”
In reality, the rule about mandatory club participation has become a mere formality, and people who quit a club after joining once aren’t really told anything.
Even those of us who never joined a club, like me and Yuzuha, were only reprimanded right after the trial membership period ended, and Remi, being a transfer student, will likely be exempt from the start.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
After that, we engaged in aimless chatter, and my commute with Remi was over in no time.
As we crossed the school gate, I felt obvious stares, and when we entered the school building, their number increased dramatically.
When I took out my indoor shoes from the shoe locker, some people were looking down from the second floor, and as we walked down the hallway, everyone in our year would turn to look.
The boys, in particular, had slightly disgruntled expressions.
“…I bet some of these onlookers would faint if we told them our houses are practically next door.”
“Don’t say that, okay? That really might cause misunderstandings.”
“Right, it’s our little secret then.”
“That sounds creepy…”
“How cruel!?”
“Ahaha.”
At the sound of Remi’s laughter, several boys turned their gazes towards us.
It’s her second day since transferring, so the boys will probably start getting serious soon.
At worst, I might not be able to talk to Remi anymore today.
So I asked her about something that had been on my mind just now.
“By the way. If you’re not keen on clubs, why did you come to a school with a club requirement? There must have been plenty of other high schools, right?”
“…Are you serious?”
Remi said this and turned around.
A scene flashes through my mind.
Remi, with tears welling up in her eyes, made a vow-like statement.
“I told you I’d definitely come back, didn’t I?”
— The words from that time flash back.
“I just fulfilled my promise.”
“…Is that a joke?”
When I asked, Remi cast her gaze out the window.
Then she looked at me and shrugged.
“It’s a joke. An elementary school student doesn’t have the power to influence their parents’ decisions.”
“Damn! I was tricked! Almost tricked!”
“Hehe. But knowing you were here was something I heard from my mom, and it did become one of the reasons.”
“Really? I can believe that, right!?”
“Yes. We were that close, weren’t we?”
Remi smiled and entered the classroom ahead of me.
I lingered at the entrance for a while, ruminating on what she had just said.
…Remi has really changed compared to before.
She still expresses her emotions directly like before, but I can’t remember her ever voicing affection like this.
Even though “as friends” was implied, her expression was one that might have easily caused a misunderstanding for me a few years ago.
If it were back in elementary school, I probably would have fallen even more in love.
Because I used to believe that my first girlfriend would be the first person I fell in love with.
Memories of getting close to Remi, and memories of the time after Remi transferred.
After recalling both alternately, I shook my head.
…I know all too well that love isn’t that sweet.
Thinking that, I entered the classroom.
The air warmed by the sunlight welcomed me.
The poll is open again, please vote!!!
Also check out my friend Localizermeerkat for more LN translations!
BUY THE SOURCE MATERIAL TO SUPPORT THE AUTHOR !!!
Kindly click on the green button above and contribute to filling the green bar if you’re interested in having another LN from the request page translated. Also, every donation is being used to purchase the source material and to fund more English translations.
Please consider joining my Ko-Fi membership. By becoming a member, you’ll also gain access to 2-10 additional chapters of all of the novels from this site translated into English. Last but not least your support will also assist me in upholding the translation quality and speed. For more information, please follow the link.
Donation for faster release is always welcome
Additionally, I am now accepting translation requests.
