Chapter 2Bad Condition
The first period ended without any incident.
I could understand the point of studying Modern Japanese, but I couldn't understand the point of studying Classical Japanese and Japanese-Mandarin. I wondered why I needed to learn them when I would never use the words, long lost, in my daily life. If they wanted to teach moral lessons that could be learned from Classical Chinese or Classical Japanese Short Stories, was I the only student the teacher wanted to teach us after translating them into Modern Japanese in the first place?
"Huft..."
I haven't rested since this morning, you know?
While thinking that, I walked out of the corridor as I was about to go to the restroom, but Aika was already walking one step ahead of me.
Then, just as our eyes met, she suddenly made a surprised face.
"Hey! Don't follow me!"
"Oh, no, I'm just going to the toilet."
"Wha-... ...What!?"
Aika froze in her position.
And I could feel the awkward atmosphere. Just in case she realized that she had misunderstood me, her face turned red.
"Tell me from the beginning, then!"
"O-Okay..."
My current attitude was somewhat different from the usual one, but still, if a boy declares "I need to go to the toilet!" to a girl, ...the girl will be confused as to how to react.
While picturing that in my mind, I passed by Aika who didn't move from her spot.
And, when I got to the entrance of the toilet, I was dragged away by Yamazaki and some other boys from the same class.
"...What happened to you two?"
"You two, huh... ...Are you talking about me and Aika?"
"Yeah, I was wondering if you two were fighting?"
Yamazaki asked with a grin. His eyes looked like someone who had found something interesting.
...Yeah, I was very curious about that myself...
"Fighting like usual, huh?"
"Well, yeah... ...That's right, you can say that."
He felt convinced when I calmly said so. But the other boy still didn't seem convinced. That boy approached me as if he wanted to explore further. He looked at me with the look of an explorer.
...Hey, don't get too excited! Your breathing is so heavy right now!
"Wait, isn't Natsukawa always scolding you? And aren't you always trying to get involved with Natsukawa regardless of what she says?"
"Yeah, that's right."
"Yeah, that's right? What? You..."
Come to think of it, it's true. Even when I saw Aika's disgusting reaction, I never thought, "Let's just give up!" or anything like that. Even though she was already angry at me, I was probably happy that she was directing her emotions at me so bluntly. That's how much I like Aika... ...Hmm? ...Like?
"Hey, do I look like a boy who likes Aika?"
"Huh, what are you talking about? Don't you like her a lot?"
"That's right, I like her. Oh, I want to spread this feeling."
"H-Hey, at this time? You want to curse... ..Eh, spread that!?"
Like he said, I really like Aika. Her dignified demeanor, strong-willed personality, even that side of her where she sometimes acts like a busybody. That's why I'm so attracted to her that she's willing to reciprocate my feelings.
But what exactly are these feelings? I'm sure I like her, but I don't want to rush into being by her side right now. It's different from before. Sure, I want to be by her side, but I feel that the burning sensation in my heart is gone.
Wait, that means, my feelings for Aika have disappeared, right? If that's the case, then what exactly are these feelings...?
"I don't get the feeling that they're fighting."
"Right, that seems to be the case."
"Yeah, even I think so myself."
"What are you talking about?"
This conversation ended with a strange atmosphere.
...Oh, break time is almost over.
Then, in a hurry, we returned to the classroom.
At that time, strange things appeared from Aika, leaving a deep impression on me.
...Again, let me see her again, come on.
♦
It's already noon.
...I've been going through this for ten hours now. The sound from my stomach hasn't stopped since the fourth period. By now, my stomach is more than ready to digest any food. I've decided. Let's ask Aika... ...Aika?
Ask Aika to what...? My lunch box was hanging in plastic next to the table to the point that it could be taken out directly. I don't have to ask Aika for anything, right? Well, what do I usually do during the day?
'Aika, let's have lunch together!'
Oh, right.
I usually ask Aika to lunch together.
As I looked to my left, my eyes accidentally met Aika's. She was looking at me with a tense face.
...Should I invite her like usual?
After hesitating for a moment, I decided to ask her, but for some reason, my voice didn't come out. Furthermore, I really didn't know what the reason was, but I felt embarrassed and my mind began to wander.
"Wh-What...? If you have something to say, just say it."
"Oh, no... ...I... ...how should I put it..."
Hmm, why is it getting so awkward? Don't I usually just go straight to sticking my desk with hers, then eat while staring at Aika's face like a boy in love? No, more than that, isn't my usual self really disgusting...?
"...No, it's nothing, though."
"...H-Huh?"
Seriously, there's something wrong with me today. In the first place, I kind of felt that all the sights I saw were different from usual. Honestly, I'm in a panic situation right now, maybe it's not because of Aika...? I've never been like this before.
...Anyway, let's stay away from here for now!
It's possible that other people will think I'm weird... ...I think, it would be better if I don't go to a place where there are many people. For now, let's go somewhere where there is no one.
"Huh...!? W-Wait!?"
Anyway, I brought my lunchbox. For the drinks? I could buy it through the vending machine on the way. I felt like Aika had said something to me, but this wasn't the time to pay attention to her. Even though I'm usually the one who always takes her to heart. Seriously, what the heck am I talking about? This is so stupid...
The contents of my head were still spinning around. But my vision was getting clearer. While I was still confused about what just happened, I bought some green tea and cola. Now, I gripped the cola in my hand.
As I wandered around looking for a place to take a rest, I had found a bench halfway down the road with a roof, surrounding the school grounds.
No one seemed to be using it, so why not just use it for now.
"..."
I sat down, stayed like that, and waited for about 30 seconds. After I recovered my thoughts, I opened my lunchbox on my lap.
Oh, I'm hungry.
The omelette, which looked like one that could be found in everyone's lunchbox, I picked it up using chopsticks and brought it to my mouth.
"...This is delicious."
The sweetness of this wonderful dish seeped into my mouth.
I guess if you buy it at a convenience store, it costs 210 yen per five pieces. Still, the flavor is so good that it can purify my heart... ...is this what they call the flavor of Mom's homemade food?
As I continued eating, my head felt refreshed.
A moment ago, my mind felt like a broken television screen, but I didn't feel anything in particular... ...I wondered if it was just a lack of nutrition?
"That's serious."
Finally, my mind returned to normal.
I thought it would be best if I went to the infirmary first before I ate my lunch. I wonder if my crazy thoughts have dulled my good judgment... ...But yeah, in the end, it did heal, so it's fine, right? In fact, it's good that it's not a big deal.
♦
The fifth period... ...my subject after this is Modern Japanese. Yeah, it's time to let my brain rest. If you read online novels or something, you don't need to study this kind of thing at school, so maybe I shouldn't have to focus too much on this subject for the whole class...?
As I returned to the classroom while thinking about this kind of thing, Aika was sitting next to me and perhaps having noticed my voice pushing a seat, she turned her body to this side. Looking at my chest and then looking at me.
...Did she see my name tag? Anyway, why does it seem like she just unlocked the padlock with double security.
"Just maybe... ...Are you worried about me?"
"H-Huh!? Why would I worry about you!?"
"I-I see."
I had no choice but to nod at her angry denial.
After all, I never thought that I would be hurt with just this many words... ...For some reason, this makes me want to cry. But at the very least, I'll keep quiet until Aika's mood returns.
Aika, let me massage your shoulders... ...No, calm down, calm down. Don't lose to your own desires.
"I see? Y-You..."
"What?"
"Nothing! You idiot!"
Okay. That was good. Just now it was just her swearing... ...It was like an award for me!
But, Aika doesn't usually falter, usually, she always refuses clearly... ...No, it's not that I want this. Please don't do that, if you can.
After that, Aika didn't say another word to me... ...But perhaps that had saved me, because I needed to reduce the burden on my head when talking to others, not just Aika. Anyway, after I daydreamed for a while, I seemed to be able to recover myself again.
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
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