Chapter 27Someone's Back That Makes Me Sick
It's time for my lunch break.
Recently, it's become common for me to have lunch with the girls around me. It's much better than having lunch with 'that boy' (Wataru) who always underemphasizes so-called 'kindness'. Hence, I knew the best position to take my picture. I-I'm not grateful for that! Not at all!
Then the topic of conversation changed to my little sis ─Airi. I was asked to show her photo and they kept asking like, 'I want to see it, let me see her'... ...so I felt bad if I didn't show it even just for a moment, so I decided to open the folder on my smartphone and handed my smartphone to them. As I proudly showed them the photo, I noticed that there were many people gathered around me...
Hmm... ...huh, wait... ...isn't this a bit... ...too many? Why are there so many people gathered here?
I, who was handing over my smartphone, was in a situation where they were lining up.
Oh, even the boys... ...but this is a bit...! Hey, don't you dare look at the other photos! Only Airi's folder is allowed!
As I looked at my friends who kept saying, 'She's cute—' or 'So cute—', Shirai-san came over to me saying, 'I can't stand it anymore.'
"Your little sis is cute... I'm so jealous... ...Natsukawa-san, can I come see her?"
"Eh, Eh!? Y-You want to come over to... my house...!?"
I was startled and accidentally asked back in a loud voice. Only Kei and the other Volleyball Club members had ever visited my house. I didn't even think of inviting the students I had just talked to to come to my house.
I didn't know what else to do, so I looked to Kei for help.
Oh, hmm...? Kei? Where is she, huh? She was still here until a moment ago─.
Kei, where did you take my smartphone... ...Hmm? Wataru...?
Kei and Wataru approached me after exchanging one or two words. I could see that he was really curious about what it was. This might be the first time I've seen the ordinary side of that boy.
"Look... ...earlier, we were all talking about going to Aichi's house soon!"
"Really? I'm still not level enough to go there."
"Hey, Natsukawa-san's house isn't a dungeon, is it?!"
Yeah, seriously... ...What do you think my house is?! That calm Sasaki-kun also gave you a 'tsukkomi'... ...I knew it, this boy isn't normal.
Then I looked around, and I saw something. All my classmates were around me... ...Kei was there... ...Wataru was there too.
"...Oh..."
I found that the back of my chest became very warm. I'm surrounded by friends right now. It's so comfortable, I wonder if that kind of life will continue every day... ...I hope so, and if it does, I'm sure that my school life will be much more enjoyable than the current one...
...And, when I think about what will happen in the future, it somehow makes me feel excited.
"Is it okay if this many people come to your house?"
"Hmm...! I can't let my little sis get close to someone like 'you'! I can't let any bad influence get close to Airi!"
As usual... ...when I talked to Wataru with that in mind, everyone around me laughed as if they wanted me to say that again.
Hey... ...Don't look at us like you've seen a 'manzai' couple! We're not like that...!
(TL Note: 'Manzai' is a type of Japanese stand-up comedy performed by two people, a funny boy and a normal girl.)
Perhaps Wataru also thought the same thing, he chuckled when he saw the appearance of friends... ...Right, this is a kind of welcome for us──
"Haha, I knew it..."
"Eh...?"
...Eh?
I'm surprised.
Why...? Why on earth would you take my words at face value...? It didn't happen until this moment.
For the time being, Wataru turned his back directly while still laughing and returned to his seat.
Please, wait a moment.
I unconsciously reached out to her.
My smartphone was returned while I was standing up. Kei and Kawai-san, members of Volleyball Club, said, 'It's okay! I understand that those boys don't look at other things!', they were watching the other classmates for me.
When I saw Airi's photo on the screen of my smartphone, I suddenly returned to my usual self.
I was dumbfounded... ...and when I noticed, the next class had already started.
♦
During class time, I discovered that a new group was being created on the messaging app. I was also invited in.
[The Strongest Girls of Class 1-C (` ・ ω ・´)]
Strongest...? Is it okay to think of this as a normal group in this class? I'm sure it's a girls-only group because the name alone is girls. But there must not have been a group like that before, right? Um... ...Wait?
There's no names like Murata-san from the Basketball Club or Koga-san from the Tennis Club... ...Looking back, isn't there no girls in the Sports Club? No, wait a minute, but Kei is also in this group, too... ...What kind of member composition is that...?
[No vulgar girls allowed.]
Um... ...it's from the Class Rep, Iihoshi-san... ...Those are some pretty strong words... ...Of course, the girls who weren't in this group usually spoke loudly, so they weren't very girly. Of course, it must be uncomfortable, but... ...Okay, if Iihoshi-san, the Mrs. Class Rep, says so, I guess it can't be helped.
The messages continued to roll in even during class time. Since the smartphone's vibration lasted a long time, I hurriedly turned off the settings.
Let me know first, guys... I don't want the teacher to realize this.
[Um... ...Natsukawa-san, is it okay for you?]
Yeah, I'm okay with it─ ─ though? What?
When I looked up, many students were looking at me.
I hurriedly looked at the messages in the group, and I saw that some girls, including Shirai-san said that they wanted to stop by to see Airi.
Oh... ...so this is a continuation of the previous story, huh.
Some of the girls said that they have club activities after school. So, only those who are free will come to my house, including Shirai-san.
Um... ...Oh, Kei said that she doesn't have Volleyball Club activities tomorrow morning?
[Yeah, it's okay.]
[I'm going to skip my club, so is it okay if I come too...?]
"Eh, skip your club? For something like that? Do you guys really want to meet Airi that badly?"
[Calm down, guys!]
[...Yeah. (´；ω； ｀)]
Saitou-san... ...she's from the Tea Ceremony Club... ...but, I wondered why she had a crying emoticon.
When I really looked at her, she was looking at me with very teary eyes and Kei was glancing at her... ...What happened to her...? What a pretty tea... ...I mean, what a pretty Japanese girl.
[Um... ...I'm sorry. Sasaki-kun wants to come too. It seems that the Soccer Club is off tomorrow either...]
Eh...?
S-Sasaki-kun...? Oh, that Sasaki-kun... ...Well, he's a good boy from my point of view, anyway, so I think it's okay. Besides, there are four other girls, so there shouldn't be anything for me to worry about. Also, he's a calm boy, so I think even Airi will look at him like a good big bro.
Right... ...like a big bro...
"..."
On the front seat next to the corridor, at the edge of my view. I could see that there was a boy who was very quiet as if he was part of the scene.
...That boy... ...I wonder if he will come too.
He used to be very attached to me... ...so... ...perhaps he really wants to come too...?
That boy used to sit right next to me, so I couldn't see him properly, at the moment. Although that wasn't the reason, I could only turn my face away because I felt that it would be troublesome if I stared at him who kept approaching me eagerly.
...Why are you looking down? Why does your face look like you have some problems? What are you thinking about? Usually, you're not like that...! Maybe it's because I told you that you're disgusting...? The reason you've stopped talking to me lately is because you've given up on me, who said those kinds of things to you...?
...What? In fact, you were always clinging to me without permission... ...and just left without permission... ...No matter how much it is, aren't you being too selfish right now? Boys like that just annoy me... ...playing with other people's feelings... ...I'm sure nothing good will happen to a boy like that...
♦
'Upset and frustrated', that kind of feeling continued until after school. Right now I felt like I could say anything without fear.
Right after class ended, I approached Wataru, who was going home early, and prevented him.
"H-Hey..."
"Hmm? ...What's wrong?"
Wataru turned around. As I looked at his face, it was completely changed from the face of trouble I saw before. I felt relieved when I saw that face with soft eyes and a bright voice... ...Wait, Wh-What's wrong with that face...? He's never made that face before!
"Um, Natsukawa? What's wrong? Why are you in such a hurry?"
"N-No, I'm not in a hurry, you know!"
"I see..."
I was startled by a reaction that seemed like all the excitement and passion had cooled down. The feeling that I could say anything up to this point suddenly disappeared.
...H-Hold yourself for a moment! If you really want to see my little sis, please say it clearly...!
"Y-You... ...are you really not coming?"
Ugh... ...I can't say it at all! I think I really want Wataru to come, what should I do?! What if this boy gets too confident?!
"Coming...? Hmm? What are you talking about─?"
"Oh, so your class is also over?"
"What...?"
I tried to repeat it, but suddenly, our classroom door opened, and Shinomiya-senpai appeared from there. As I was surprised by the sudden visit from someone like her, Kei who was nearby had sparkling eyes. However, Wataru was looking at Shinomiya-senpai who appeared with a calm face.
"Hello, guys. I know your tiring day is over, but can I borrow Sajou for a while?"
"O-O-O-Of course! You can boil him, or roast him, or post photos of him on social media!"
"Hey, hey, Ashida!!!"
Shinomiya-senpai said that she had business with Wataru...
Huh? She purposely came here to ask him? Especially, after school? But, looking at this situation, it seems like Shinomiya-senpai, the President of the Disciplinary Committee, came to give him a lecture...?! That Wataru!? With that Shinomiya-senpai...?!
"Oh, my bad, Natsukawa. What was it again, huh?"
"N-Nothing, it's nothing, though! It's nothing, though, so just go!"
"Huh? Okay, I understand, ma'am!"
Hey, are you a military officer?!
Why are you answering like that! You see, Shinomiya-senpai is also looking at us with strange eyes! What if she gets the wrong idea?! Hey, why do you look so happy?!
Wataru rushed out as if I had kicked him out and walked next to Shinomiya-senpai. Starting with the words 'Let's change location.'
With Shinomiya-senpai, Wataru went somewhere.
Author's Note:
Saitou Mai-chi: [... (´；ω；｀)]
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
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