The atmosphere in the classroom at the start of the week was more lively than usual.
Classmates were engrossed in conversations, unfazed by the sunlight streaming in through the windows, and naturally, some were talking between boys and girls.
However, the main topic was not about how the class’s plain girl had suddenly turned into a stunning beauty after the break, but mostly about things like where they went out with their new friends or who confessed to whom and started dating.
「Haa… I wonder if she’ll be okay.」
At the back of the class, I sighed while looking at an empty seat.
After getting off the train and boarding the bus, Satou’s face, as we swayed for a few minutes, was a mix of anxiety and excitement as she put on the glasses just before getting off the bus.
…But as soon as we passed through the school gate, Satou dashed off at full speed.
She quickly crossed the plaza, stormed into the entrance, changed her shoes, and then sprinted into the nearest restroom.
『I-I’ll chase after you right away…!!』
That’s what Satou said before leaving, but I wonder if she’s really okay…
Maybe I should go check… No, I can’t.
If I invade the girls’ restroom, my high school life would be over.
That said, I can’t easily ask someone else to go check.
Because probably, as far as I know, Satou doesn’t have any close female friends.
It’s one thing if they were friends, but sending a female classmate to Satou, who fled to the restroom because she didn’t want to show herself to her classmates, would be too cruel.
Actually, I haven’t even properly talked to any of my female classmates other than Satou, so I’m stuck either way.
「Haa…」
And so, all I can do is wait for Satou.
I can only wait, but my anxiety and worry escape as I sigh.
As the one who chose the glasses, I’d be sad if Satou’s reputation doesn’t improve… and besides, I’ve seen her efforts up close, probably more than anyone else in this class.
My current state of mind is like this.
Like a parent worried sick about whether their child will make friends on their first day of school.
I can’t tell her that, though.
…And then.
「You look pretty gloomy for the day after a break.」
I feel a tap on my shoulder from behind and hear a voice.
「…Oh, Minato. Feels like it’s been a while.」
「Reallyー?」
Karasawa Minato──He’s been my friend since middle school and is a reliable best friend who once informed me through online news that the culprit who molested Satou had been caught, but recently, due to Minato being busy with club activities, we’ve had fewer opportunities to hang out together.
Maybe that’s why it feels like a while.
By the way, I haven’t told Minato that it was Satou who was molested, and of course, he doesn’t know about her cuteness either.
「By the way, what club activities are you in, Minato?」
「Drama and literature. Haven’t I told you?」
「I feel like I have and haven’t… But drama and literature, huh. Are you writing scripts or something?」
「Oh, right on. I’m also doing acting coaching in the drama club.」
「Seriously?」
「Iyaaー, having talent is such a hassle, you know.」
「What about morning practice?」
「Acting coaching and script writing aren’t things you need to do every day.」
「I see.」
As I continued to chat with Minato for a while, more than half of my attention wasn’t there.
I know it’s rude, but I hope he’ll forgive me just for today.
「Kaoru?」
「Eh? Ahh, sorry.」
──Light Novels──
──Read Here──
Every time the classroom door opens, I glance that way.
I get excited and anxious every time the door opens, wondering when the cute girl I commute with will arrive.
「You okay?」
「W-What about?」
「What about? Kaoru… look.」
「?」
Minato takes out his smartphone from his pocket, operates it briefly, and shows me the screen.
When I peek at it, I see myself reflected.
Because Miu once said, “If you ask if you’re cool… well… enough for me to be proud of you as Miu’s Onii-chan…?”, I think I have a certain level of cleanliness, but if asked if I’m cool, I can’t really say for myself. That’s the kind of look I have on the screen.
「What’s this… about…」
「See? It makes you anxious, right?」
「…Yeah.」
At least the face I thought I had groomed well enough not to look unsightly to myself was now in a ridiculous state.
No, the problem isn’t the face but the expression.
There was a wild guy with upturned corners of the mouth, trembling lips, and eyes full of excitement and anticipation.
「I was torn between calling 110 or using my smartphone camera to show you your current state.」
「And you ended up aiding and abetting the criminal… You’re kind.」
「Right?」
Minato puts his smartphone back in his pocket as he says this.
Then he looks at my face and grins.
「It’s like, you know.」
「Nnn?」
「Like waiting for a reply after sending your first email to the girl you like.」
「……」
「…Eh, seriously?」
「N-No, it’s not exactly like that…」
After saying that, I felt a slight pain in my chest, but for now, that’s not the cause of my current tension.
「Then, waiting for a reply to a confession?」
「That’s not it.」
This time I deny it properly.
「Then what’s the cause of that face?」
「That’s… you’ll find out soon.」
Checking the time, homeroom was about to start in 5 minutes.
「Then there’s no need to pry. I was thinking of supporting you if it was love.」
「Support?」
「Yeah. For example… you know how they say “the ones who are popular are the ones who get more popular”? So if it was love, I was thinking of sending 2 or 3 girls from the drama club around Kaoru under the pretext of “acting coaching”.」
「Don’t, it’d be pitiful for those girls.」
Is he thoughtful or what…
Just as I was thinking that and holding my head in my hands.
Garagaragara, a modest sound was heard.
There are no footsteps.
A small person.
There was no loud greeting to anyone, nor did any group’s conversation get livelier because of that person, but───
The surrounding chatter stopped.