Chapter 9: Beyond the Home Date
 

 
“What? What do you want to talk about?”
 
At 8:30 PM, in front of Remi’s house entrance.
 
Remi, in her loungewear, spoke with an openly displeased voice.
 
“Go on a date with me next week.”
 
“Go home.”
 
“Wait, wait!”
 
As she was about to close the door, I forcefully held it open.
 
“You… Coming suddenly at night to ask for a date, are you crazy!? There are plenty of other ways, like phone or LINE!”
 
“But you never answer your phone!”
 
“I have … Read the rest

“As long as I don’t understand how you can like me without ever having talked to me, I can’t date you.”
 
…It was a statement that seemed to dislike the very idea of love at first sight.
 
The senior seemed unable to say anything, clicking his tongue before closing his mouth.
 
Hanazono bowed slightly and turned on her heel.
 
“Please keep your idol of me only in your mind, senpai.”
 
With those parting words, Yuka Hanazono walked away.
 
Leaving behind the senpai who stood there dumbfounded.
 
And then.
 
“Wow. To be able … Read the rest

Chapter 8: The Gears Accelerate
 

“… Did you see that? Hanazono was there!”
 
“Well, of course she was. We’re in the same school, it’s not that surprising. You like her too much, don’t you?”
 
“No, she was walking with a senior, just the two of them!”
 
“Hmm? If she’s dating a senior, then Yoshiki’s wish is over! “
 
“Don’t say that so casually! And I don’t have any hopes yet!”
 
Probably not, anyway.
 
And yet, an unpleasant feeling crosses my mind.
 
Come to think of it, Hanazono always said she ate lunch … Read the rest

—I’ll shine for you, Yoshiki.
 

Yuzuha had said that before, but this was the first time I heard the reverse.
 
Considering that, I answered.
 
“That’s a heavy burden.”
 
“How cruel!? Why!?”
 
“Well, unlike you, I’m just average when it comes to everyone’s trust and all.”
 
“That doesn’t matter! Besides, I just wanted to hear your feelings, that’s all!”
 
“Hey, I didn’t say I wouldn’t do it.”
 
“Huh?”
 
Yuzuha blinked her large eyes repeatedly.
 
Of course I’d accept.
 
I owe her for relying on her for my social relationships this … Read the rest

 
“…Well, I’ll accept that gratitude then. Thanks.”
 
“…Yeah.”
 
“Hehe.”
 
Yuzuha showed her white teeth. Then,
 
“Well, it doesn’t look like there’ll be any major problems, so it’s not a reason for Yoshiki not to date. You should hurry up and confirm if things are good with her, okay?”
 
“You’re landing on that topic after all this!?”
 
As expected, her ability to change the subject was still intact.
 
The unstoppable momentum in changing topics was still there, which reassured me a bit.
 
Remi had changed. Probably for the better.
 
Everyone changes … Read the rest

“…Hey, why are you suddenly down?”
 
“…Mm. I guess Yoshiki also thinks I’m not normal.”
 
“Well, I mean… of course. You’re the sun of Class 2, so it’s natural that you’re not normal. You’re different from me.”
 
I prioritized following up rather than apologizing awkwardly.
 
However, Yuzu gave a wry smile and looked up at the sky.
 
A faint sunlight was leaking through the uniformly gray sky.
 
“You know, the ‘sun of Class 2’… It probably doesn’t mean what you think it does.”
 
“Huh? Is that so?”
 
I blinked my eyes.
 
Before I knew it, a shadow had appeared on … Read the rest

Chapter 7: The Sun of the Class
 

 
A week had passed since I received the date ticket from Remi.
 
As the rainy season approached, swallows were flying low in circles. They would probably disappear soon.
 
Despite the humid heat before the rainy season,
 
Yuzu and I were spreading our lunch boxes on the rooftop.
 
“It’s so damn hot… Why are we eating on the rooftop?”
 
Even though we were sitting in the shade, the heat was making my body boil from the core.
 
“I thought it might snow since it’s so rare for Yoshiki to have lunch with me. … Read the rest

 
“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 … Read the rest

 
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, … Read the rest

 
Taking my silence as agreement, Yuzuha poked my chest lightly.
 
“You want to experience youth too, right, Yoshiki?”
 
That statement was the clincher.
 
“…Just don’t do anything that would bother Hanazono, okay?”
 
“Of course not, what do you take me for? Well, let me know when you’re done with the preparations to break through the ‘good vibe’ stage—”
 
“Huh?”
 
“First, you want to make sure your perception of ‘good vibe’ matches with Nikaido-san’s, right? Let me know when you’ve got that figured out!”
 
So, if I gain confidence after talking with Remi, … Read the rest