If she were to have this kind of conversation just two weeks after transferring, it wouldn’t be strange if her classmates labeled her as an unlikable character.
Even if the transfer student doesn’t mean any harm, classmates also need time to prepare to accept them.
For someone as striking as Nikaido Remi sitting in front of me, it takes even more time to process.
“That’s why I’m asking you, Ryota. I’ve been with you plenty since way back, so no matter what I say to you, it won’t cause any issues. In that sense too, I’m glad you’re here.”
“Well, that’s good. Though from my perspective, it’s a shame I don’t get to see that self-centered attitude of yours in public anymore.”
“You’ve become less insensitive in public too, though it’s a shame.”
“Mine is a good thing, right!?”
“Mine is good too, isn’t it!?”
Remi retorted, then quickly glanced around.
Fortunately, it seemed no one had seen them.
I slurped my ramen, lost in thought.
Maybe because the atmosphere with Remi had returned to how it used to be, I was able to go back to my fearless self while talking.
Thinking about it, it’s natural.
As people become closer, they gradually reveal their inner selves.
With Remi, that was pried open in just a few hours, and we were able to return to how we used to be.
That’s almost equivalent to regressing to my old personality.
To the me before the trauma was implanted.
In other words, I might be able to heal my wounds by spending more time with Remi.
It’s equal to temporary healing, but thinking that such time could lead to overcoming it, I’m deeply grateful.
I gathered my thoughts while drinking the salt ramen soup.
“Well, I admit that the transfer student character suits you surprisingly well.”
“But you don’t seem to like it much.”
“…It’s not that I don’t like it…”
The selfish desire of not wanting to lose the Remi I used to admire. That certainly exists.
This feeling, if put differently, could be described as “not liking it.”
But respecting Remi’s choices is also the duty of a childhood friend.
I shrugged and strung together words.
“Won’t the piercings and inner color hair stand out? I just feel it contradicts your desire to live inconspicuously.”
“Oh, this?”
Remi ran her hand through her hair.
From the way her hair flowed, I could immediately tell it was well-cared for all the way to the tips.
For even a fashion-ignorant guy like me to notice, she must have spent considerable time on it.
“If I didn’t want to give up this kind of self-expression, I just thought I’d have to be more careful with my words and actions.”
“…I see. I’m relieved, that part of you hasn’t changed.”
Though the fashion color is different, Remi’s ideology is similar to Yuzuha’s.
In other words, self-expression.
A style no less impressive than Yui Yuzuha’s, with a neatly worn uniform.
The allure that comes from hiding skin is further emphasized by her piercings and inner color hair.
It’s far from the inconspicuous and ladylike image Remi talks about, but certainly, if she’s careful with her words and actions, there’s a low chance of attracting antipathy from others.
Perhaps conforming to others like this is the first step towards adulthood.
Thinking this, I gulped down some water.
“Still, your appearance has really changed. It’s completely different from the you in my memory.”
More than her facial features, the change in her figure is remarkable.
If even I think so despite having some resistance from Yuzuha, it’s understandable that others are making a fuss.
“…Hey, where are you looking when you say that?”
Remi narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
“Huh? Oh. Hahaha.”
Now, I’ve returned to a relationship where I can talk about most things with Remi.
There’s still a slight gap with the Remi in my memories, so I hesitate with sensitive topics, but it might be worth trying to see how far I can push it here.
Let’s see, the most courageous answer in this situation would be…
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“I was looking at your chest.”
“Wha… What…”
I went too far.
Remi’s mouth opened and closed, her cheeks turning bright red.
“If you have those kinds of feelings, you should try to hide them a little!? How can you answer so boldly!?”
“No, there’s a proper reason for this, I was testing if we could talk about anything!”
“That’s not an explanation at all!”
I shushed her, mindful of our surroundings. Remi reluctantly closed her mouth and let out a big sigh.
“Now that you mention it, this is probably how you would have grown up if you hadn’t changed… Boys are really the worst.”
“Wait, wait, for the honor of boys, I’ll say not everyone is like this. I was just testing earlier.”
“You might think you’re explaining yourself, but that’s still pretty sinful, you know.”
Remi replied resentfully, vigorously tearing open her mackerel miso packet.
…I hope she’s not imagining it’s me she’s tearing apart.
“Besides, you should be used to it with Yuzuha. You two seem to get along well. Coming late to class together and all.”
“Ah… She’s weak in the mornings. When she looks sleepy, I’ve decided to keep her company as her alarm clock.”
“Oh? Such consideration, the old Ryota wouldn’t have thought of that.”
Remi said, taking a bite of her mackerel miso.
“That’s not true. I was properly considerate in the sixth grade.”
“Really? Despite teasing me quite a bit in front of everyone?”
Flashbacks of my poor jokes keep coming back.
“Th-that was, you know… the sad nature of elementary school boys. Trying to liven up the atmosphere…”
“You mean you were being considerate of others? That’s unexpected.”
Remi laughed lightly.
“…Remi’s group back then was full of outgoing people, and I thought I’d be left behind if I didn’t make jokes.”
When I revealed my feelings from that time, Remi tilted her head.
“I don’t understand. Why did you think that?”
“Because… I was the most boring person in that group.”
I ended up voicing my pitiful state of mind.
Remi frowned at my words.
“…You weren’t boring. I wanted you there, that’s all that matters.”
…This might be the first time I’ve been encouraged so directly, even including before Remi transferred.
“Otherwise, we wouldn’t have played together. We even played at home, right? Even sleepovers–“
Remi replied and then fell silent again.
She’s closing her mouth, looking slightly embarrassed.
…Sleepover.
It was when we were very young, but we even took baths together.
If Remi remembers that, it makes sense that she could easily say “Should we hold hands?” on the way home.
As for whether I remember–
For some reason, an image of the current Remi naked played in my mind.
I hurriedly pushed the naked delusion out of my head.
This time, my gaze was about to naturally fall to her chest area, so I used all my willpower to push it back.
Fortunately, Remi seemed to be distracting herself from her embarrassment with food, popping mackerel miso into her mouth.
The special set meal might seem too much for a girl, but she’s eating at a pace that suggests she could easily finish it all.
As I was calming myself down while slurping my salt ramen, Remi asked as if she just remembered something.
“By the way, are you close with Hanazono-san? I saw you talking in the hallway earlier.”
“…You saw that too. As for our relationship, well, I wonder…”
Even after being rejected, I’m confident I can talk to her more than other boys.
–I think of Yosshi as a friend.
At least, if those words haven’t changed since then.
“Haha, what’s with that complicated face? Did something happen with Hanazono-san?”
“No… nothing really…”
“Did you like her or something?”
“Pffffft!”
“Kyaaaa!?”
As I spat water to the side, Remi let out a very unladylike scream.
I turned to the side and spat at the wall in a split second, but if I had been a fraction of a second slower, I would have sprayed Remi’s face. Safe. Or maybe out.
“This is the worst, what are we going to do about this…!”
“Sorry, sorry, sorry!”
I quickly wiped the water droplets off the wall and table with the cloth in my hand.
Then, my hand with the cloth accidentally knocked over a glass with a crash.
Water splashed onto Remi’s shirt, creating flesh-colored spots.
As the water dripped, part of her underwear became visible.
…It’s over.
“Let me ask just in case. Was that on purpose?”
“No, it really wasn’t on purpose. If I could aim like that, I’d be competing in some world championship by now.”
I’m aware of how ridiculous my response is.
Remi sighed exasperatedly.
“Nevermind, I’ll do it. Give me the cloth?”
“Huh?”
Before I could react, Remi took the cloth from my hand.
Her white, delicate hand moved swiftly across the table.
Watching Remi quickly wipe away the water droplets, I was reminded of her past self.
…Come to think of it, she did the same thing when I spilled tea at home back then.
To wipe up the water droplets on the floor, Remi got down on all fours. After wiping most of it, she noticed my gaze and narrowed her eyes.
“If you’re just going to stand there, I wish you’d at least get a new cloth.”
“Oh, sorry. I was just thinking how thankful I am.”
“You should say those things out loud, you know.”
Remi replied as she stood up.
As she patted the dirt off her skirt, there was something maternal about her. Maybe it’s because she seems clearly more mature than our peers.
It was just as Remi sat back down.
From a few meters away, an inconsiderate voice was heard.
“Oh wow, isn’t that the transfer student?”
“Whoa, seriously? She’s super hot!”
Remi’s eyebrow twitched.
I also stopped, chopsticks in hand, and listened carefully.
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