Walking to school with my sister made me feel like it was a parent-teacher conference.
The soot sprite-like her shrinks down to fit in my chest pocket.
From my perspective, it’s like a black sea anemone growing out of my pocket.
Thanks to attending a nearby high school, the commute is very short. We arrive in no time just by talking with my sister, who is moved by the outside scenery she’s seeing for the first time.
I don’t feel like talking to myself (or something like that) where there are people around, so I close my mouth as the number of people in uniforms increases.
「Ah, good morning.」
Then, a voice as if rolling bells addressed me from behind.
Along with a “splat” sound.
Cruelly, I really don’t want to turn around. Because I know what’s behind me. It’s like a horror movie with all the setups in place.
However, this is right at the school gate, and I’m still being looked at with jealous eyes as usual. Moreover, if I were to ignore her, my impression would undoubtedly become the worst.
I force my mouth open, like sliding open a poorly fitted sliding door.
「…Morning.」
「Adashino-san, you seem different today.」
「Is that so?」
Nanaka muttered this and came up to my side, bending the top of the lump of meat as if to peer in. I can’t see from here, but there must be eyeballs attached.
Come to think of it, how is she speaking?
Even if I sneak a look without being noticed, I can’t confirm any parts that make up a human face, like eyeballs, a nose, or a mouth.
「Maybe because I woke up early.」
「Ah, you slept properly!」
She bounces her voice happily, bringing up yesterday’s matter.
Actually, I had planned to kill zombies and then sleep until I got home, but I gave up due to the emotional reunion with my sister.
Of course, I can’t say that, so I nodded with a face that seemed to say, “I kept my promise to you”.
「Why is Kusakabe-san with that guy…」
「Who’s that?」
「He’s not that cool, is he…」
And so, it seems Nanaka is still considered a beautiful girl to others, and voices of jealousy are offered in hushed tones.
How unfortunate I am.
Normally, being associated with a beautiful girl would attract jealous looks, but in my case, it’s a lump of meat. A minus creates another minus.
A perpetual motion machine of negativity.
「? What’s wrong, Adashino-san?」
「I was just thinking about the absurdity of this world…」
Nanaka bends the tip of the lump of meat curiously.
「Hee, you’re thinking about amazing things.」
It was a voice that probably didn’t understand anything.
While having such a conversation, we take off our shoes at the entrance and head to our classroom on the first floor, as we are first-year students.
I could feel the classroom “buzz” due to my arrival with her, who is renowned as a beautiful girl.
──Light Novels──
──Read Here──
I quickly take my seat.
As I hang my light bag on the side of the desk, the boy in the seat in front of me is grinning at me.
「…What?」
「No, no, things are heating up, aren’t they?」
Itou Hiromasa smirked lewdly. He hid his mouth with a textbook he must have deliberately taken out, narrowing his eyes like a fox.
I wondered if I would be socially forgiven for knocking him out.
「How do you see it that way?」
「Anyone would think so if you come to school together.」
「Indeed.」
I slipped up. This might make the heroine who hasn’t appeared yet back off.
I’ve lived for a little over fifteen years and never had a girlfriend, but it’s a shame to reduce even the slightest possibility to zero.
I should refrain from actions that make it seem like we’re dating.
I really should refrain.
「You think so, right?」
「Why are you saying that to me?」
Because you were the closest.
My seat is the promised victory seat, by the window in the back row, but Kusakabe Yuna was leaning against the locker behind me with her arms crossed.
Her body looks like it’s about to rot away, wrapped in a uniform that looks like discarded cardboard. She even has twin tails in her blond hair.
「Why are you here?」
「I came to talk to Onee-chan. What, got a problem with that?」
「Of course I… don’t.」
That was close. I almost reflexively said, “I do”.
I mean, you come to school and there’s a zombie behind you. Even horror games give you more warning.
「But it seems she went to the bathroom. So I’m just killing time like this.」
「Heeh.」
With that, Yuna started gazing out at the schoolyard.
The morning sun filters through the leaves, illuminating her cheeks.
If she were the beautiful girl rumored to be, it would make quite a picture, but unfortunately, she’s a realistically oriented zombie. There’s no way I could feel excited.
The conversation died, so I prepare for the first period. I can still feel her presence, so Yuna is still behind me. It’s scary, like I might get eaten if I let my guard down.
Why do I have to experience the feeling of being prey in everyday life?
I thought humans were at the top of the food chain.
「…Hey.」
「What?」
Without hiding her dissatisfaction, Yuna walked over to me.
Just as I thought it might be mealtime, she lightly taps my back.
「What do you really think about Onee-chan?」