After school. Sophia and I leave the classroom at different times and head to the third floor of the club building.
I still had the key to the clubroom. After Sophia left, I also grabbed my bag and started moving.
When I arrived on the third floor of the club building, Sophia was right there at the top of the stairs.
She notices me and smiles, looking the same as always… or so it seems.
But, I wonder if I’m overthinking it when her smile appears to be one meant to avoid any sense of awkwardness?
「It’s been a while.」
「Yeah, it has.」
…The reason it’s been a while is probably my fault, isn’t it?
Should I apologize here? No, even though there’s no one in the hallway now, someone might come along soon.
The third floor of the club building is mostly occupied by cultural clubs. Also, clubs with a lot of ghost members.
So, it’s considerably quieter compared to the floors with other clubrooms, but it’s not like no one ever comes here.
It’s probably better to guide her to the clubroom first.
「For now, this way is the Literature Club, so follow me.」
Saying that, I head towards the Literature Club with Sophia.
There’s a sign on the entrance to the clubroom that says “Literature Club”.
I unlock the clubroom door and lock it again once we’re inside.
It’s unlikely anyone will come, but just in case.
The inside is bleak. There are two simple long tables lined up, and a few folding chairs.
But well, there’s no sign of it being used. This is proof that this club is just a formality.
A laptop is placed on the table, closed. It’s something the club members can use freely.
Lockers for storing belongings are lined up against the wall, just like in the classroom, but more than half of them are empty. There are a few books lined up in the lockers at the far end, but that’s all.
「There’s not much here.」
「…Well, yeah. I think it’s a convenient place to use as a storage space.」
Sophia nodded in agreement as she looked around at my words.
We sit down facing each other.
…Now, what should I do from here?
Sophia was the one who said she wanted to talk, but is it okay for me to suddenly bring it up?
Or would it be better to make the atmosphere more relaxed by engaging in some small talk before getting to the main topic… No, but I can’t think of any tactful small talk.
In fact, I ended up making Sophia angry last time because of that, so the atmosphere may be much better if I just don’t open my mouth…
As I was thinking about such things, Sophia leaned back in her chair and muttered something.
「I’m sorry about Monday.」
Sophia put her hands together and bowed her head. I was taken aback by her unexpected words and just stared blankly, but it would be rude to remain silent.
I quickly bowed my head as well.
──Light Novels──
──Read Here──
「I’m sorry too for saying something strange out of the blue.」
「…No, why are you apologizing? It wasn’t anything strange.」
「But… I made Sophia angry.」
「…That’s because you hit a nerve.」
Saying that, Sophia hugs her own arms tightly.
Hit a nerve? …So, that means my point was correct.
That’s why she got angry. …In other words, it also means that Sophia has some issues with her parents.
I try to recall her parents. I didn’t feel like either of them were bad people. But, there might be something going on behind the scenes that I don’t know about. …W-What should I do? I came here intending to listen to her, but what if she tells me something I can’t do anything about?
H-How should I approach this kind of situation?
I’ve never had a friend I could confide in like this, so I don’t know what kind of mindset I should have.
But, for now, let’s listen to her seriously. If I do that, I’m sure I won’t make her feel uncomfortable.
「Hit a nerve, you say, can I ask you about the details?」
「…I don’t think it’ll be interesting for you to hear, you know?」
Sophia seems hesitant. But, I think… maybe she wants to talk about it.
That’s why I think she’s been holding it in ever since our conversation in the library the other day, and that’s why she chose this place where no one is around and called me out today.
「If you really don’t want to talk about it, you don’t have to force yourself… But I’m… your fiancé now. If there’s anything I can help you with, I want to.」
…Even if it’s just a formality, she’s one of the few people I’m close to.
If someone like that is struggling with something, and I might be able to help them, I want to support them.
「…Fiancé, right.」
Sophia said this in a short, quiet voice, muttering with an indescribable expression.
D-Did I make her feel bad?
「W-Well, sort of.」
When I hurriedly correct myself, Sophia gives me a wry smile and a piercing look.
「Hey… I thought you were cool, don’t show me your pathetic side.」
Well… because it is “sort of,” isn’t it?
Thinking that she might have found it creepy that I said it so definitively, I hurriedly denied it, but it seems that was the wrong answer, as she’s looking at me intently, albeit with a teasing look.
From Sophia’s reaction, it seems like my statement itself wasn’t bad, so this time, I ask Sophia with a confident attitude.
「You’re my fiancée. So I’ll listen if you have something you want to talk about… What do you say?」
When I rephrased it, Sophia chuckled and then slowly opened her mouth.
「It’s related to why I wasn’t feeling well during lunch break… I don’t know where to start. I don’t really like my parents.」
「…Is that so? You seemed to get along well.」
「…I love them as parents. But as seniors at work, I don’t like them, or rather… I don’t know how to describe it…」
Sophia said this as she grasped her arms as if hugging herself.