Chapter 7: Chilled Tea and Cumulus Clouds
Class 2-3.
It may be too early to judge since it's only the second day of school, but the atmosphere in this class isn't bad.
Perhaps it's because the key figures in the class are clearly defined, but there is no one trying to stand out with foolish pranks.
The class atmosphere seems to be greatly influenced by prominent groups, and considering that, the presence of Arisugawa and Yumesaki must be working positively for everyone.
Lost in thought, disregarding the fourth period class, a voice called out from ahead.
"Arisugawa-san, what was the name of the country governed by Saito Dozan?"
"It's Mino Province. It has a cool name, doesn't it?"
"Don't talk about unnecessary things."
The teacher's retort caused a small laugh in the class.
The Japanese history teacher also had a smile on their face; it was a good atmosphere.
Arisugawa didn't talk excessively and managed to lighten the mood just enough.
When I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye, she was starting to draw illustrations in her notebook.
Upon closer inspection, it seemed like an illustration of the teacher talking about the content of the class.
Since the crucial information wasn't written, the notes were completely meaningless.
Such difficult-to-understand behavior might be one of Arisugawa's charms—maybe.
When I was about to smile wryly by myself, I heard a commotion from the neighboring class in the hallway.
Several classmates were seemingly intrigued and their gaze shifted from the blackboard to the hallway.
"They seem excited, huh?"
Arisugawa murmured and smiled slightly in my direction.
"Want to join them?"
"Nah, I'll definitely stand out. After all, I'm a guy with zero friends."
"Hehe, Asuka-san is here too, and it might be surprisingly fun."
I stopped twirling my pen and looked at Arisugawa.
It wasn't the right moment to exchange words that could be overheard by Takao and Yumesaki.
As a result, only four words came out of my mouth.
"Sure, why not."
"Hey, you, don't ignore me like that!"
We exchanged those words in a hushed voice, and the teacher turned their gaze sharply towards us.
I quickly looked down at my notebook and pretended to pay attention to the class.
Next to me, Arisugawa calmly resumed her doodling.
I heard laughter coming from the hallway again.
...As I thought, Asuka is the center of attention.
Asuka has a rough side to her, but her kindness shines through.
Having Asuka as my support is reassuring to me.
Ding-dong—
The chime rang, and I snapped out of my thoughts.
Lunch break, eagerly awaited, had begun. The first one to speak up was Takao, sitting in front of me.
"I'm tired! Seriously tired and hungry!"
With his lively voice, his neighbor Yumesaki's shoulders trembled.
"Hey, what should we do today? Since Sanada came back yesterday, why don't the four of us who are close sit together and grab something to eat?"
Takao casually addressed Yumesaki.
It was a happy proposal for me, but what about the two girls? Yumesaki combed her shoulder-length red hair with her hand and opened her mouth discontentedly.
"You're so noisy! Can't you talk a little more quietly? My ears are ringing!"
"Huh, are you angry? Sorry, I'll talk more quietly..."
Takao's cheerful face turned gloomy.
Seeing that scene, Yumesaki wore a somewhat apologetic
"Alright, if that's the case, I guess there's no other choice. I'll think about it too."
"Sorry about that. I'll treat you to pastries tomorrow!"
Takao put his hands together and left from the classroom of group three.
As I saw him off, I smiled happily and let my thoughts run wild.
Right now, I'm putting on a front.
For me, who had no place to belong in the class, it was a situation where I actually wanted to forcefully hold him back.
Nobody wants to eat lunch alone. As soon as I'm alone, the classroom of group three feels disproportionately large.
Even though it's only been a few minutes since lunch break started, there are only two groups of girls left in the classroom, all opening their lunchboxes.
...Oh no, I'm completely late.
Some people give me concerned looks as they see me alone, but I get nervous even if they try to talk to me.
Above all, it feels awkward to intrude on a group of girls by myself, even if they are classmates.
"Oh, should I join them~?"
I deliberately leave those words behind and leave the classroom. Why should I feel embarrassed about having lunch alone?
While I have such doubts, I feel like this shame is proof that my sense of embarrassment is back to normal, and it doesn't make me feel bad.
But still, embarrassing things are embarrassing. The fact that no one reacted to my soliloquy only accelerated my sense of shame.
◇◆
I gathered the courage and went to Class 2 where Asuka was, but unfortunately, she was not at her seat.
Reluctantly accepting that I would have to eat alone, I ended up going to the cafeteria. I thought that if I placed myself in a crowded space, I wouldn't stand out even if I ate alone.
If I sat in a seat closer to the center, I might attract attention, but it should be fine if I sat at the edge.
Besides, unless they were acquaintances, people generally aren't interested in others.
Since I didn't have any friends to begin with, there weren't many students who paid attention to me.
It's a truly sad reason, but that fact worked in my favor at the moment.
While pondering over that, I joined the line for the ticket vending machine.
The line consisted of students from first-year to third-year, all jumbled together, and it seemed like a mistake to have only two ticket vending machines.
If there were four, the congestion would be more manageable, but it's unlikely that they would allocate a budget just for lunch break expansion.
The fact that the classrooms didn't have air conditioning made me feel like my assumption was correct.
After waiting in the long line for about five minutes, I finally reached the front of the ticket vending machine.
The menu options were croquette set meal, grilled meat set meal, ramen, and tempura rice. I really wanted to take my time deciding, but considering the line behind me, I quickly pressed the button for salt ramen.
It was a button I pressed without much thought, but it felt familiar somehow. I followed the flow of people and lined up at the counter, handing my ticket to the lady.
While waiting for about two minutes on the side, steam rose from the salt ramen on the counter.
"Ah, salt ramen!"
"Thank you..."
"You seem down. Eat something delicious and cheer up!"
"Yeah..."
The lady, who was desperately managing the long line, seemed to be in a tough spot, but at the same time, I felt the warmth of people.
The emotions obtained through interacting with others can vary greatly depending on the person you interact with.
It could be a sense of relief as if taking a breath, or an exhilaration of not knowing what will happen next, or an interest that makes you want to get to know the person better.
When I interact with someone, what kind of feelings do I evoke in them?
At least, the students I made eye contact with just now seemed to have positive feelings.
The underclassman I exchanged words with earlier while I was rushing due to being late this morning—Fue no Hina.
The udon container placed in front of her was so large that I wanted to ask where it fits in her small body. As soon as she spotted me, Hina stood up and waved her hands vigorously.
"Senpai! Senpai!"
"Oh, Hina."
Embarrassed, I unintentionally responded with a casual tone. Maybe it sounded a bit forced.
However, Hina didn't seem to mind at all and pushed the chair in front, saying,
"Here you go!"
She made space for me to sit.
"Thank you."
Don't be casual, me.
While scolding myself in my mind, I sat across from Hina. Since it was a table for two, the distance between us was quite close, and thanks to that, I could see Hina's face clearly.
Her eyes were large and double the size of mine, and it was quite strange to think that we were the same species.
Her round, button-like nose reminded me of a small animal, and combined with her chestnut-colored bob hair, it was adorable. However,
I took a sip of soup, ate the bamboo shoots, and finally, the long-awaited moment for the noodles arrived.
"Mogu...!"
It seemed like I miscalculated and filled my mouth with a large amount of noodles.
...It looks like it's going to take quite a while to chew through all of this.
"Senpai's nonchalant reaction is really nice..."
"..."
"Hehe, you started with the soup and then the bamboo shoots, right? I understand, I understand. It's natural to start attacking from around that area."
"..."
"Oh, by the way, before, you used to eat a lot of bean sprouts at the same pace as the noodles. But leaving only one naruto till the end is such a senpai thing to do. You'll definitely leave it today too, won't you?"
"..."
"The noodles in the cafeteria are thick, but they're delicious, aren't they? I think Senpai usually prefers thin noodles with a firmer texture, but the reason you order ramen frequently at the cafeteria is because it's delicious, right?"
*Gulp*
"Why are you able to talk by yourself!? It's not just difficult to eat, it's scary!?"
Finally swallowing, I put down my chopsticks and raised my voice. In response, Hina blinked her eyes. Why does she react as if I've started saying something weird?
"Um, you can just keep eating. I'm just watching."
"But that's really scary, you know...?"
As I temporarily set down my chopsticks, Hina smiled apologetically.
"Well, you see, I felt lonely eating alone until just now. If I don't have you as my companion, I might turn into a rabbit. Ah, I mean, I might feel like dying without you. Ah~ God, I want to pull the gacha for Senpai to appear."
Hina's words were a bit confusing, but it seemed like she was expressing her gratitude for having me eat with her. I couldn't help but smile wryly at her playful remarks.
"Hey, Hina, don't you have any friends?"
"No, I don't."
"You really don't have any?!"
I couldn't help but interject. It was so casually said that I didn't feel any heaviness at all.
"So, is that why you were late today?"
"No, that's not it. It's because I wanted to see Senpai! Geez, don't make me say it again, hehehe."
"..."
"It's sad to be put off..."
"I can't keep up with your emotions..."
Feeling exhausted, I scoop up the soup of my salt ramen with my chopsticks.
As I slurp it down, it instantly melts away my fatigue.
"Hey, wasn't waiting this morning painful for you? If you had told me on LINE, I would have adjusted the time."
"But Senpai was late."
"Well, yeah... Sorry about that."
Stabbed by a sudden retort, an apology slips out of my mouth.
Hina giggles and then speaks.
"The time I can't meet you is always painful for me, Senpai."
"Then, besides that?"
"Pfft."
Hina pouts in dissatisfaction and then makes a thoughtful gesture.
"Well... I like the smell of the river, so aside from not being able to see you, I'm okay. I also like to relax."
Saying that, Hinata finally starts slurping the udon.
Since I joined her, Hinata hadn't touched the udon at all.
Long eyelashes and slightly drooping corners of the eyes.
I, the person who deceived such a junior, should truly be punished by the heavens.
No, I mean, I guess I was punished, in a way.
While I'm silently criticizing myself, I tentatively agree with Hinata.
"I understand. I've also felt soothed by the sound of that river before."
"Hehe, really? That's great! Common point +1, closeness +8!"
"What kind of calculation is that?!"
"It's my head, which works like Excel, you know..."
"Don't underestimate Excel, you fool!"
Hina pours water into an empty glass and hands it to me.
Then she silently returns to her meal, seemingly not paying much attention to my remarks.
"Thank you."
"Hehe, thank you for saying thank you."
"What's that? It's a lovely response."
"Fuwaa... Senpai called me lovely—"
Just as Hinata was about to respond, the surrounding area suddenly became noisy with shouts like, "Woah!" and "Hey!"
It must be the zoo.
Thinking that, I turn around.
The voices just now seemed to be from the same freshmen as Hinata.
The boys, who exuded a freshness in their way of wearing the school uniforms, were excitedly exchanging words like, "They're second-year Senpais," and "They're so cute!"
Following their gaze, I see two familiar figures entering the cafeteria.
They were glamorous and radiant.
"Hey..."
The same words as the freshmen unintentionally escape my mouth.
They are the leaders of the three major factions: Arisugawa and Asuka.
When I look at them from a distance, their appearance stands out even more.
When they walk side by side, even a simple corridor transforms into a glamorous runway-like atmosphere.
It seems that the entertainment department has been abolished at Yasuzaki High School, but those two definitely exude that atmosphere.
The second and third-year students only glance sideways, probably used to it, but it's understandable that the freshmen, who have just entered, are captivated by their presence.
...However, it's quite unsettling to see Asuka and Arisugawa coming to the cafeteria together.
Especially when the classroom atmosphere was already on the brink of tension.
I want to believe that Asuka is feeling a bit regretful, and that no strange conflicts will arise.
Asuka and Arisugawa don't notice me and continue walking to seats in the opposite direction.
Since the seats are about twenty meters away, the possibility of them noticing me is low.
"Senpai... Do you not want to go?"
Hinata asks with an unusually awkward expression.
"Huh? Yeah, well..."
Arisugawa mentioned having a promise, and it's probably lunch with Asuka.
It makes sense that Asuka wasn't in our classroom because she was with Arisugawa.
Since Asuka also didn't call out to me, they probably want to spend time together, and if I were to go, it would only complicate things. No, it would definitely complicate things.
"You don't have to go."
"...Is that so? Hehe, thank you."
Hinata smiles happily.
A smile of pure innocence that doesn't give off any sarcastic vibes.
A girl who seems so pure... my girlfriend.
A sharp pain shoots through my chest.
"Sorry... for being such a boyfriend."
"Huh?"
Hinata blinks her eyes.
After a gulp and a sound from her throat, she shakes her head.
"N-No, not at all! I'm the newest addition here, so I'm actually the one intruding! That's why being able to be by Senpai's side is happiness, it's not a lie! Originally, I'm not supposed to exist!"
Hinata rattles off her words and continues, "That's why..."
"Just being able to fit into Senpai's circle is a stroke of luck for me."
I put the glass back on the table and speak.
"...Don't say that."
"Huh?"
I have no right to encourage her in my current state.
Even if I've lost my memories, even if it's for treatment, I'm still accepting this situation of being involved with two people.
In simple terms, I'm a selfish man who prioritizes himself.
But even so...
"──The only word I couldn't tolerate was 'forbidden love.'
There shouldn't be a single person here who is forbidden.
"Hina, would you be sad if I were gone?"
"Yes, I would die."
"That's a bit extreme. But well, that's the point. If I were gone, you would be sad, right? Similarly, I would be sad if Hina were gone. Surely everyone feels that way about someone."
As I spoke, Hina's eyes sparkled brightly.
Her eyes seemed to overflow with stars.
"Sen...pai... You're too cool! Your supply of affection as my favorite is precious!"
"W-What's that? I said it quite seriously!"
"I understand, I understand. That's why I'm happy! Hehe. But Senpai, the phrase 'forbidden love' refers specifically to being lovers or something like that."
"Right... I guess that's true. The conversation took a leap... Sorry."
"Not at all, I'm happy!"
It seems she's overly sensitive to certain words.
I scratched my head and refocused on my ramen.
As I tasted the thinly sliced chashu, the combination of meat juices and soup made me feel happy.
"By the way, I'll ask you as a last resort, but do you know anything about the old me, Hina?"
Hina's movements came to a halt.
Then, she tilted her head thoughtfully.
"What do you mean? Like your personality?"
"No, more like the reputation from people around me. I usually want to confirm the reputation others have about me, but I thought it would be good to know about my own reputation too."
"I see!"
"Well, we're in different grades, so I thought you wouldn't know."
"I know!"
"You know!?"
While I was planning to switch to another topic as we spoke, I almost dropped my chopsticks.
After slurping her udon, Hina nodded.
"Well, Senpai was famous. You were close to Asuka-san and Arisugawa-senpai, so you stood out."
"F-Famous? Our relationship was known to first-year students?"
Maybe it's because of Arisugawa and Asuka.
I had underestimated how much people knew about us, thinking it was limited to our grade.
When I asked her back, Hina nodded softly.
"If someone attended the middle school across the street, they probably knew. Arisugawa-senpai had people aiming to join Yutaka High School because of Asuka-san. I admired you, Senpai."
Hina said that and smoothly gulped down her udon.
Soon, I swallowed nervously, prompted by her silent gaze urging me to continue.
"...Senpai, your facial features are... top-notch..."
"Forget about that, continue."
"Y-Yes, sorry!"
Hina widened her eyes in surprise and carefully explained.
"As you know, this Yuzaki High School had an entertainment department until three years ago. Even though it was abolished, thanks to the efforts of the alumni, the female enrollment rate is still ridiculously high. So, your facial attractiveness is outstanding compared to other schools in the area..."
Even though I listened while slurping my ramen, it didn't taste as good.
It seems I'm more interested in this information than I thought.
"Among them, the current second-year students are exceptional. They have even more talented individuals compared to when the entertainment department existed! Since an OG tweeted about it on Instagram, they're called the 'Golden Generation' within the school."
"Well... That means the boys have no standing."
"Many incredibly cute girls are there, so the boys seem to be happy being
As I, who had observed various things, narrowed my eyes, Hina puffed up her cheeks.
"Senpai, your reaction is so dull! It's not like a typical maiden game... I mean, it's like a gal game. You rarely come across such a setting!"
Hina spoke with a solemn tone.
It seemed like she got more excited while explaining.
"First person! There is no one unknown in this school! It's Arisugawa-senpai, a popular model! A unique individual who doesn't belong to any group. With the popularity she gained as an individual, she ended up being called a faction herself."
So, Arisugawa is a faction on her own. The person who first came up with that idea should look up the meaning of "faction." But if it's spreading, it means Arisugawa has enough presence to compete with the other two groups even on her own.
"Second person! It's Asuka-san from the student council, whom Arisugawa-senpai persistently recruits as a model! Some male students say that these two are the beauty of this school."
Her tone seemed to imply it was obvious.
Although I could sense a tension between Asuka and Arisugawa, it didn't seem to be the case with Hina.
"Third person! Senpai Yumemaki. Well... they are definitely the most flashy and prominent group. They are the only ones who seem like a true faction, and I find that group scary."
The lackeys surrounding Yumemaki in the hallway from earlier crossed my mind.
Indeed, Yumemaki was the only one who clearly had a group of followers.
"And my favorite, Sanada-senpai! He's famous, close with the celebrity Arisugawa-senpai, and childhood friends with Asuka-san! I like his face, and he has a unique aura that keeps others at a distance! But at the same time, it makes me curious!"
"Why am I included!? I'm the true odd one out!"
"Just kidding!"
Sometimes Hina says things that catch you off guard.
As I took a bite, then another bite of ramen, I contemplated how I was evaluated by others.
Hina's opinion of me being handsome was mostly subjective, but I thought that other aspects of her reputation might not be entirely off.
The gazes directed at me in the classroom were, now that I think about it, somewhat like "I'm curious, but it's difficult to approach." It wasn't entirely inaccurate.
But I could somewhat understand the reasons behind it.
"Arisugawa and Asuka are really something. My level of fame is all connected to those two," I said.
Moreover, I ended up being seated near Yumemaki Yoko.
"Well... yes. The reason I first became interested might be because those two stood out too much," Hina honestly admitted. Then she added,
"It would be troublesome if more people started favoring you, so please don't stand out anymore, senpai!"
Hina relaxed her cheeks and ate udon hungrily.
Her figure reminded me of a small animal and was quite adorable.
But deep inside my heart, there was a slight hint of gray.
"It's a bit of a pathetic story, even though I didn't have any friends," I said with a smile.
"Senpai?"
Well, it wasn't a comment about having such a cute girlfriend in front of me.
Since I woke up, I've been in this environment, and I've gotten used to it, but in a way, having valuable people around me is more important than abilities.
"It was because you seemed to be on equal footing with everyone that you became famous, right? I think you were respected," Hina said.
"I see. Well... if that's the case, then it's good," I replied.
Grateful for Hina's support, I directed my gaze towards the ramen.
I swirled the soup round and round with my chopsticks.
Just as I was about to eat, I noticed a figure passing by my side.
It seemed like the walking speed of that figure had slowed down, so I glanced to the side.
It was a girl about 160 centimeters tall.
Purple eyes peeked at me from behind long eyelashes.
But above all, what caught my attention was her fiery wine-red hair.
Not only did I recognize her, but she was also the leader of our class, Year 2, Class 3.
It was Yumemaki Yoko, one of the leaders of the three major factions.
"Hey, Sanada. Why are you in the cafeteria?"
"Uh..."
Yumemaki Yoko and about two of her followers were there.
They had the atmosphere of a strong female group.
Besides Yumemaki, there was a gal with long brown hair and a girl with short black hair and a stern expression.
Perhaps it was because I had just heard the names of the three major factions, but it felt like the top-tier groups depicted in the manga I read while hospitalized had come to life.
Yumemaki almost stopped and glanced at the two of us before walking towards us.
"Seriously, why are you with Hina? And Sanada..."
"Yumemaki... senpai."
Yumemaki didn't react to Hina's response.
It seemed that the two of them knew each other, but their relationship wasn't amicable.
While keeping her gaze on me, Yumemaki threw a question at Hina.
"Hina, how's your job going recently?"
It must have been about some part-time job.
Hina, who was one of the top-ranking students among the upperclassmen, hesitantly opened her mouth in a nervous manner.
Was she activating her shyness, or was she simply overwhelmed by the presence of Yumemaki Yoko, or perhaps...
"Uh... I've been taking a good rest."
"I see. So, can you continue resting like that? Are you not getting any other job offers?"
"W-well... I've been saying that I'm not feeling well..."
"I see... Well, you should quit soon."
Despite her apparent concern, Yumemaki's tone of voice was cold, unlike anything I had heard in the classroom.
Even with Takao, I couldn't recall seeing her wearing such a chilly expression.
Yeah, the compatibility between these two seems bad too.
"Hey, are these two dating or something? Seriously? That's messed up," one of her followers, the girl with short black hair, questioned.
And another one, the girl with long brown hair, added her words.
"By the way, I was late today, but these two came to school together."
Yumemaki reacted with a twitch and approached Hina.
I could sense an unpleasant atmosphere.
This uncomfortable air was surely unique to this cafeteria.
"I've told you before, haven't I? Do you understand?"
"Yes. I will keep it in mind," Hina said, tightly pursing her lips and bowing her head.
She was clearly shrinking back. It's safe to say she was being cornered.
Unable to watch anymore, I unintentionally interjected.
"Hey, Yumemaki... It's not like you to do this, right?"
Yumemaki turned her gaze towards me.
Her purple eyes were colder than any eyes she had shown in the classroom.
"Not like me? We haven't known each other long enough for you to make such a judgment."
"Well... that's true," I replied.
I had just exchanged words with Yumemaki for the first time yesterday.
We had only known each other for two days, and yet here I was blabbering on.
"...Hmph, whatever."
Yumemaki seemed to change her mind and approached me, lowering her gaze.
There was still over half of the ramen left in the bowl.
"It seems you don't like bamboo shoots."
"Huh? Well, I just don't feel like eating them."
"Let me have them."
Yumemaki took out a new pair of chopsticks and ate the bamboo shoots for me. Hina let out a small "ah" from her seat, but Yumemaki didn't seem to notice. I hesitated on how to respond, but in order to defuse the tension, I thanked her.
"T-Thank you."
"Hmm... Sorry for creating such a weird atmosphere."
Yumemaki lightly chuckled and then looked down at me.
She gestured for me to come closer, a bit away from the others. Feeling that refusing would be awkward, I stood up and responded to her call.
As I walked, the girl with short black hair chimed in from behind,
"Oh, look at that, it's getting interesting."
Yuki Sanada—the reputation of being well-liked by the three major faction groups.
But now that I think about it, it's not surprising that she gets along with the top two members.
Just a few meters ahead, Yumemaki turned around and spoke in a casual manner.
"Sanada, think a little more about who you have lunch with. Don't you hate being looked down upon by others? I'll give you some advice. It's a waste for someone like you."
... What's that supposed to mean? I honestly felt a little uncomfortable, but I couldn't openly show my attitude.
"... I don't really get what you mean. Why would it be looking down on someone to be with Hina?"
In response to my question, one of her followers answered in a high-pitched voice.
"That girl is famous for deceiving people, you know? Don't you know she's avoided by everyone around?"
Yumemaki nodded slightly and let out a sigh.
"That's right. Why didn't you know? Geez."
"Well... I didn't know for sure, but saying she deceives people is a bit of an exaggeration..."
"Well, she was actually walking with you to school, you know?"
The girl with long brown hair among her followers laughed.
Yumemaki exhaled with a slightly irritated expression, turned her back to us, and left with these parting words.
"Make today the last time you interact with her... And you guys, did you really come together today?"
"... Yeah. That's the truth."
"...I see."
She engraved an obviously displeased expression in my eyes and walked away. Looking at her back, I couldn't help but think, "Yumemaki, you have a volatile temperament."
It's undeniable that Yumemaki has a leader-like personality, but her notable characteristic is her high pride.
While Asuka also occasionally displays strong-willed behavior, it's clearly a different kind of roughness.
Asuka and Arisugawa haven't explicitly stated anything about Yumemaki, but I felt like I understood the reason why.
◇◆
Leaving the cafeteria, I bought an orange juice from a vending machine. Then, I glanced at Hina standing behind me.
"What would you like, Hina?"
"M-Me?"
"Who else is there?"
I chuckled, and Hina happily relaxed her cheeks and took out her wallet from her pocket. She handed me 120 yen.
"With this, please get me a small-sized black tea."
"No, I'll treat you."
"It's alright. I don't want to burden you, Senpai. But I do want to experience the 'being treated' event, so please use my money!"
"I-I see."
Feeling bewildered, I accepted the money and pressed the button for black tea. A mechanical sound echoed as the empty plastic bottle of tea rolled into my hand, chillingly cold.
"So, what were you talking about with Yumemaki Senpai earlier?"
"Huh? ...It's nothing."
I instinctively tried to brush it off, and Hina chuckled.
"You really are kind, Senpai."
"W-Why do you say that?"
"Well... It's a lie to say that there weren't any malicious comments about you from her. I'm fully aware that I've caught Yumemaki Senpai's attention."
After receiving the black tea from me, Hina swiftly twisted open the lid with a "snap" sound. After a gulp and a loud swallow, she spoke up.
"I heard her complaining about me, right? I'm sorry for making you worry so soon after my return."
"No, why are you apologizing, Hina?"
I furrowed my brow and put the orange juice bottle into my pocket. Although I had bought it, I no longer felt like drinking something sweet.
"Don't you find her way of interacting with people unfair?"
When I asked that, Hina blinked her eyes.
"Unfair... What do you mean? I think people's compatibility matters..."
"But that was unfair. At least, that's what I thought."
"Are you angry, Senpai?"
"I don't know if I'm angry... but I was definitely uncomfortable with Yumemaki's attitude."
"...You shouldn't say things like that. I'm not bothered by it. It's not good to oppose her."
Hina chuckled wryly and took a sip of her tea.
Then, a pure smile appeared on Hina's face, completely unaffected by the previous incident.
"Hehehe, it really is delicious."
"W-Why are you laughing?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. It's just that the tea you gave me was amazing."
Hina left about half of the tea remaining and eagerly closed the lid. The bell signaling the end of lunch break would ring in a few minutes.
"...I'm genuinely happy that you care about me, Senpai. These unexpected events make school enjoyable, don't they?"
"Events?"
"Yes, exactly."
Hina nodded energetically.
"In otome games, having these kinds of events makes you more immersed. It also builds anticipation for what's to come."
I wondered what she meant by "what's to come." It seemed to be related to romance, judging by her sparkling expression. In other words, it was about me.
"So, Senpai. I'm okay, you know? The relationship between me and Yumemaki Senpai is not something new. Well, today was the first time experiencing something like this... but I'm actually having fun."
"...Even if you say that..."
"Hehehe~ It would be nice if we could meet on weekends too. I'll message you... Oh, Senpai, we need to hurry back!"
As Hina dashed away, I missed the timing and silently followed her. Watching Hina's back as she entered a different school building, I pondered my thoughts.
Her chestnut bob hair bounced as usual, and despite encountering Yumemaki, her back looked just as it always did. Even her words and actions gave the impression that she genuinely wasn't bothered.
...No, that can't be right.
It must be that she's simply gotten used to it.
...Does that mean the interactions between Yumemaki and Hina have become a regular occurrence?
But she indirectly refused my interference.
In that case, is it really okay for me to get involved?
Do I have the right to do so?
My ponytail swayed back and forth.
"...Human relationships are so complicated."
It seems that the previous me preferred being alone.
Did I grow weary of these challenging situations and start preferring solitude?
I let out a small sigh and turned my gaze to the sky beyond the window.
Yesterday, there wasn't a cloud in the clear sky, but now, gray cumulonimbus clouds were rising.
In anticipation of an impending downpour, I tightened my lips.
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