Chapter 8: Toudou Tsuyoshi and Tanaka Haru’s Reset

 

 
 
After finishing the company visit, I resumed my part-time job at the Western-style restaurant on the regular weekend. I silently process the shrimp in front of me. I wash them under running water and split them down the middle with a specialized pair of scissors.
 
I like the prep work for cooking. I can think about all sorts of things while moving my hands.
 
Plus, it’s interesting to see the gradual improvement in my processing techniques.
 
The chef next to me, who is preparing the doria, starts talking to me. His daughter … Read the rest

Chapter 7: The Pride of Rokka
 
“Hey, hey, give it back! I have to go, I promised!”
 
I failed. I was happy about the message from Toudou and couldn’t help smiling as I looked at it.
 
Rin snatched my smartphone from me.
 
It’s not just the smartphone, the male students are having fun taking my bag too.
 
A group of them is standing in front of me, blocking my way. Even if I try to take the smartphone back from Rin, they interfere.
 
“Heeey, you’re going for cafe without telling us, huh? Lucky you! Oh, we’re going to karaoke too, … Read the rest

 
Tanaka grips my hand without asking why.
 
Somehow, that alone makes me feel stronger. So–
 
The unbearable pain rushing through my body doesn’t matter anymore. I won’t regret this anymore. For that–
 
I flipped the [switch] .
 
In that moment, intense emotions burn deep within my chest. My brain recognizes it as the heat of real flames. But this is just an illusion. The true heat of flames is not like this.
 
I stare at my phone with one hand.
 
Something is spilling from my eyes. Beyond the blurred vision–there is something I couldn’t [recognize] before.
 
Michiba’s message. The one … Read the rest

Chapter 6: Michiba Rokka and Toudou Tsuyoshi’s Company Visit
 
Interacting with people is very difficult for me. I thought everyone else was handling it well. I just couldn’t see what was around me.
 
An unknown person crammed into a classroom. Friction is bound to arise. There are no villains or heroes. Just immature students who don’t know anything.
 
Recently, I’ve understood a little bit more. I didn’t feel a very good vibe from the group I was part of. Michiba looked very lonely. Even though she had classmates around her.
 
“It’s not my business.” Those words … Read the rest

I think saying “I’m in love” is what you’d say about Hanazono, or that Tanaka-san who’s always next to Toudou. The atmosphere is completely different. My jealousy and Hanazono’s jealousy are different in quality. Hanazono’s is real jealousy. Mine is…just that I didn’t want my friend taken away.
 
Looking at Tanaka-san’s expression next to Toudou, I can tell. …Uh, that girl is a bit too cute, isn’t she? She looks kind of gyaru-ish but incredibly pure. Personally, I’d like Toudou to go out with Hanazono, but…
 
I silently cheer on the absent Hanazono in my heart.
 
–Do … Read the rest

Chapter 5: Toudou Tsuyoshi’s Corporate Visit
 
The day of the school’s corporate visit event had arrived.
 
Even students from the special class who don’t participate in other events are joining this time. It seems they’ll be visiting a different company than the normal classes.
 
Mainly, students aiming for academic paths will visit companies in their desired research fields. It also seems to serve as a scouting opportunity for the companies.
 
Tanaka and I wanted to experience regular company visits, so we decided to go to the same company as the normal classes.
 
The meeting place … Read the rest

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After spending a warm time at the family restaurant, we decided to go home. Sorimachi remained holed up in the back and didn’t come out.
 
Tanaka’s little brother and Tanaka waved to us until our figures disappeared.
 
Hanazono and I kept waving back.
 
When they were no longer visible, Hanazono let out a sigh.
 
“…Phew, I didn’t expect Sorimachi to be at the family restaurant.”
 
“I don’t go there often, so maybe she just started working there recently?”
 
“In middle school, I was also a bit stubborn… I got angry when Tsuyoshi was made fun of.”
 
“…… Sorry, in middle … Read the rest

 
When I seriously disliked something, I was told “It’s just a joke, can’t you take a joke?” Once, when Hanazono was absent from school due to a cold, an “incident” occurred.
 
Hanazono was mocked. In that moment, I was consumed by an unpleasant emotion and couldn’t see it as a joke anymore.
 
Apologizing for things that weren’t wrong. Deciding based on fragmented information. I couldn’t understand the normal world of middle school.
 
Back then, I didn’t have Hanazono to stop me. I couldn’t hold myself back. I thought “I can just reset it later if I mess everything up.” I … Read the rest

Chapter 4: Toudou and the Cat
 
It’s rare for me to walk home alone.
 
“I don’t have any plans today. It’s been a while.”
 
When walking home with Hanazono, we always stop somewhere.
 
I’m still working part-time, but I’ve reduced the number of shifts to avoid unnecessary contact with Tanaka.
 
Life is long. But I have constraints. I graduated from that elementary school… I made a contract with Eri, occasionally completing her requests to earn money, and living a normal student life. And then, I ran into Eri for the first time in a while–… Read the rest

I had thoroughly prepared for the festival beforehand. I had plenty of small change ready, and wore traditional shoes. The night before, I had stayed up late reading books about festivals all over Japan, excited to experience it.
 
The people at the festival all seemed to be enjoying themselves. Just like in the videos. Families, friends, lovers – everyone was laughing and smiling. Eating candied apples, playing games, laughing while catching goldfish, dancing the Bon dance.
 
But I just stood there, unable to join them.
 
I walked back and forth in front of the food stalls, trying … Read the rest