“Hey, doesn’t she surpass Hanazono from Class 2? She’s totally my type.”
“Our types are completely different, but I might like the transfer student better too. What was her name again?”
“Dunno.”
Checking the color of their indoor shoes, they seem to be in the same grade as us.
Three boys with an outgoing aura are sending curious looks our way.
I covered my mouth with my hand and spoke to Remi.
“…We can hear everything they’re saying.”
“They’re probably saying it so we can hear. It’s a roundabout way of appealing to me.”
“Eh, does that happen?”
“It happens all the time. Really, it’s very common.”
Remi calmly took a sip of water.
Even such an everyday gesture becomes picturesque with her beauty, so I can understand those boys’ feelings to some extent.
…Before she transferred, she might have encountered similar situations many times.
The air of self-defense that Takeru sensed from Remi the other day might have been something she had every reason to develop.
I wonder if her claim of wanting to live inconspicuously was born from situations like this.
“Doesn’t that get tiring? Was middle school like that for you?”
To my question, Remi gave a wry smile.
“Congratulations! This has been going on since elementary school, you know? Ryota just never noticed.”
“Really!? I had no idea at all!”
“I know. That’s why I said congratulations just now.”
As I was about to reply, I heard the voices of some boys again.
“Who’s that guy next to her? Which club is he from?”
“No idea. I’ve never seen him in our gym, that’s for sure.”
“Isn’t he the one rumored to be with Yuzuha from Class 2? Though I heard it’s just a false rumor.”
“Oh, that one! I know about it! That rumor is so ridiculous. There are surely better candidates to be Yuzuha’s boyfriend.”
…Hey, I can hear you guys.
Well, it’s better than the direct insults from middle school, so I’ll let it slide.
I know better than anyone that Yuzuha and I don’t match up.
It’s only thanks to Yuzuha and Takeru that I’ve managed to climb to the upper-middle level of the class hierarchy. On my own, well… you can imagine.
Ignoring this belated evaluation, I finish my water.
Suddenly, I feel pressure from the front.
I look up to see Remi glaring at me intensely.
Why is she glaring at me?
“Why is that guy alone with the transfer student? Is he hitting on her?”
“Seriously? Is he trying to make his dreams come true with her since it didn’t work out with Yuzuha? No way, though.”
As the boys laughed, Remi stood up.
…Oh boy, what’s she going to do?
Remi sharpened her gaze and took a step towards the boys.
─ This is bad.
That was my gut feeling.
Hurriedly putting on a smile, I raise my voice.
“Hey, you guys! I can hear you!”
The boys quickly realized and disappeared from sight with a “Crap!”
One of them shouted, “Sorry!” as they left.
It seems they had just gotten excited and their voices got louder; they hadn’t meant for me to hear.
Remi, who had missed her chance to do something, turned back with an irritated expression.
“Why did you interfere?!”
“Come on, what happened to not wanting to stand out? You looked like you were about to tear into them like in the old days!”
“Not wanting to stand out and not speaking up in situations like this are two different things!”
So she really was about to give those boys a piece of her mind.
This is the Remi Nikaido I know well.
“I appreciate the sentiment, but we’ve been doing so well this past week. If those guys spread rumors, all our efforts will go to waste, right?”
Remi bit her lip, then sighed as if to regain her composure.
“…Don’t underestimate me. Even if they spread rumors, the negative image of them making me angry would be stronger. I should have built up enough of a reputation this past week for that.”
“That confidence is impressive, but what if rumors start about you and me being close?”
“We’ll deal with that when it happens.”
Her response was nonchalant.
I thought she’d be more flustered, but it seems she was prepared for this.
“On the other hand, why didn’t you say anything back to them, Ryota?”
I tilted my head at Remi’s question.
“Didn’t I? I actually managed to stop them, you know.”
“You just said you could hear them. That’s not talking back at all.”
“Ah, well… But it’s not like they were really insulting me.”
“…Wait a minute. That was clearly an insult, no matter how you look at it.”
Remi replied in a cold voice.
It seems my attitude doesn’t sit well with her.
…She’s still as strong-willed as ever.
“Maybe so, but it’s not worth causing trouble with other classes over something like that. You’re not the only one who wants high school life to go smoothly.”
As I gave a light laugh, Remi looked at me with a puzzled expression.
“…I see. Ryota, things really didn’t go well for you in middle school, did they? That’s why you quit the handball club too, right?”
─ Bull’s eye.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
Part of me wants to pretend that things went well even while Remi was away at another school.
But at this rate, she’ll figure it out soon enough.
As I struggled to answer, Remi continued.
“…You’re strong. To not be bothered by that.”
“Strong?”
“Yes. If it were me, I’d snap back immediately, like just now. I think that’s just because I can’t handle it alone, so I end up lashing out. …Even though it’s your problem, not mine.”
“…It’s not like that. You wanting to confront them just now shows that your core hasn’t changed, Remi.”
“Huh?”
I thought Remi and I were the same.
Both of us were fearless in our early elementary school days.
Since then, I’ve conformed to the idea that living safely is the right thing to do, while admiring my childhood friend who stayed true to herself.
That’s why I was secretly disappointed when I thought my admired childhood friend had conformed like me.
But I was completely wrong.
Remi’s core hasn’t changed at all.
Even now, she was ready to act even though those boys’ comments weren’t directed at her. She always has the strength to take action.
That’s something I still lack.
“You’re really cool, you know that?”
“Th-thanks. I’ll accept that compliment for now.”
Remi lowered her eyes and continued.
“But you shouldn’t just keep everything to yourself either. If you’re okay with me, I’ll listen.”
“…I see. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
Remi put down her chopsticks and looked at me.
“Just so you know, I’d be a little happy if you relied on me. In fact, I’d be annoyed if you didn’t, since we’re childhood friends.”
─ We’re childhood friends.
A relationship based purely on the luck of meeting when we were young.
But if she says it like that…
“…There’s something I’ve been worried about recently.”
“…Okay. Go on.”
“─ Have we ever had a ‘good vibe’ between us?”
“Excuse me?”
Remi blinked.
Silence fell.
Feeling internally anxious, I hurriedly added:
“Um, this is about romance. I can’t really tell when there’s a ‘good vibe,’ so I often get rejected. That’s what’s been bothering me lately.”
Remi tilted her head slightly, as if not quite understanding.
“…I don’t really get it, but. That’s kind of cute.”
I fell silent.
…I wonder if I should continue this conversation.
After a moment of hesitation, I replied.
“I appreciate you saying that, but you’ve known me since we were kids, Remi. This kind of misunderstanding from guys must be scary for girls, right?”
“…Maybe. I’ve certainly had experiences like that.”
Remi gave a wry smile.
…Oh, I hope she’s not talking about me.
As I feared this, Remi put her index finger to her chin.
It’s a habit she has when she’s considering something.
After waiting for a while, she finally spoke up casually.
“Okay. In that case, I’ll go out with you for just one day on a weekend.”
“Huh, weekend?”
I couldn’t help but ask.
I thought we were going to continue the conversation here and now.
Just the two of us on a weekend, it’s almost like─
“─ A date.”
I said it out loud.
Remi blinked and nodded.
“That’s right. I’ll give you a ticket for a one-day date with me. That might help you get more comfortable around girls.”
“…Really?”
Remi checked to make sure no classmates were around, then took another sip of water.
A date, a date… a date, huh.
The sound of it is so sweet.
A date is the next stage that awaits after passing through the ‘moment’ checkpoint.
“It’s special, okay? A childhood friend privilege.”
“…That’s awesome. By the way, can I use this ticket anytime?”
If I could use it at any time I wanted, that would be incredibly lucky.
“Hmm… I’ll let you do that. So, think carefully about when to use it, okay?”
“Then, is anywhere okay?”
“…As long as it’s within reason.”
“I-I get it.”
I slurp my salt ramen energetically.
The salt ramen that looked inferior compared to Remi’s meal earlier.
The soup that I can only taste once a month spreads in my mouth, now permeating deeply.
This really is delicious after all.
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