A Case in Which My House Is a Gathering Place for Girls - Chapter 41: Because I’m Her Childhood Friend

A question, phrased with a strong tone and utterly obvious, is directed at me. It’s my fault, so why is it that Jinpei-kun is the one being blamed? But even if I tried to explain myself, things wouldn’t get better; it would only make it worse. All I can do is grit my teeth.

At that moment, Jinpei-kun gave me a gentle smile. Even without words, I can understand what he’s trying to say.

“What Kanna really wanted to say… is that ‘I’m looking forward to the event because it’s something we can work on together with the class, and I want to forget about business for now.'”

Everyone around us is left dumbfounded by Jinpei-kun’s words. Only Asakura-san and Sasazuki-san have their hands over their mouths, trying to hold back their laughter, so it’s clear they are involved in this whole sequence of events as well.

But when my thoughts are spoken aloud like this, it feels a little embarrassing. Compared to what I actually said, it’s completely unrecognizable. To be able to understand that… Jinpei-kun is like some sort of psychic. As expected, my proud childhood friend.

“I don’t think you’re an esper, so how do you know that?”

The girls ask the most obvious questions. I’d been inwardly smirking, but from an outsider’s perspective, it’s easy to think Jinpei-kun is just imagining things. Now it’s my turn. I brace myself and gather my courage to speak up, but just as I open my mouth…

“Because I am Kanna’s childhood friend. Is there any better reason than that?”

There’s no room for complaint in his words. The sharp look in Jinpei-kun’s eyes makes the girl falter, and at the same time, the classroom goes silent.

“Jinpei-kun…”

My childhood friend’s face is not visible because of my blurred vision. The things that I had endured for a long time fell down with a crash, and my tears overflowed incessantly. No matter how much I try to wipe them away, they won’t stop.

“And I heard firsthand that Kanna was looking forward to this bazaar. And I’m not the only one. Right?”

“Yes. I heard Hanazono-san say so, too.”

“Same here. She said it with a really good smile. She doesn’t seem like the type to treat it as something to do just for fun.”

Asakura-san and Sasazuki-san raise their hands to reinforce Jinpei-kun’s words as if they are not lying. It is heartbreaking that the two of them remembered the casual story.

“Isn’t it true not only Itsuki but also Asakura-san and Sasazuki-san…”

“There is no reason for the two to tell lies or to protect Hanazono-san.”

“What’s their relationship to begin with?”

The classroom is buzzing with sudden cover shots by two genius sprinters and genius actresses. From an outsider’s perspective, it’s hard to believe we have any connection.

And even though my childhood friends and my first friends have done this for me, I can’t just cry, and I can’t just hide behind their backs forever. I wipe my tears with my sleeves and open my mouth determinedly.

“I’m sorry! I’ve made you feel uncomfortable with my lack of words. But as Jinpei-kun, Asakura-san, and Sasazuki-san said, I was looking forward to working with you to work on the bazaar! So─”

I pause and take a deep breath.

‘I wish everyone could understand what Kanna is thinking.’

The pure and gentle words that Jinpei-kun told me when I was young. How much they helped me, I can’t even count. But there’s actually a continuation to that phrase, something that’s a precious part of who I am now.

‘But if everyone doesn’t understand, then I’ll speak for Kanna and tell everyone what she’s thinking!’

I’m sure Jinpei-kun doesn’t remember that time. Even so, just like back then, he spoke on my behalf, expressing the words I couldn’t say.

But it’s okay now. Because I convey my thoughts to everyone with my own mouth and voice.

“───How about… we all make accessories together?”

I bow deeply, saying please.

I gathered all my courage. Once again, the classroom falls into silence.

In an atmosphere where everyone is hesitating. Wada stood up so fast that he could knock down the chair as if to break the silence and said.

“If Hanazono-san says so, we have no choice but to do it!? I mean, no one’s going to say they won’t do it, right!?”

Wada-kun teases our classmates with words that sound like something a delinquent leader would say. I’m happy, but I can’t help but wish he had said it a bit more gently. Still, this sparks a change, and the atmosphere in the classroom begins to unify.

“Alright, let’s do it!”

“The deer horn accessories are fashionable. Itsuki-san has a good taste.”

“I mean, honestly, Hanazono-san really didn’t explain enough.”

The heavy air disappears and comes back to life. Everyone’s feelings, who thought that it would be no longer good or that it would be the same bazaar as before, were completely refreshed. Jinpei-kun is definitely at the center. He’s really a great person.

“Okay! Let’s get to work as soon as we get to it! Itsuki-san, are all the ingredients there? You’re going to teach me how to make them, aren’t you?”

“Of course. And we still have more ingredients, so I’ll get them. I’m sorry, class president, but will you hand this out to everybody?”

“Y-yes…”

Jinpei-kun took the clear file out of the cardboard box and handed it over to the class president. Judging from the fact that it is rather thick, the manual seems to be for the number of people. I can’t imagine how hard he worked when he prepared it in parallel with the processing of the materials.

“It’ll be alright if you look at this and work on it. That’s all I have to say!”

After saying so, Jinpei-kun dashingly walked out of the classroom. The rest of us, under the direction of the class president, started making accessories right away.