A Story About a Girl Who Took Life for Granted and Fell in Love With a Kind and Introverted Boy - Chapter 12.1

…August 24th, 7:30 a.m.

I changed from my pajamas into my school uniform and was eating strawberry jam toast at the dining table on the first floor.

(I need to withdraw some cash today. Maybe I can stop by the bank after meeting Kenji.)

While thinking about this absent-mindedly, I suddenly heard, “Huh? Kana?” from behind me.

When I turned around, there was Mom, dressed in her usual suit, looking ready for work.

“What’s up? Kana, do you have something going on today? Is it a school day?”

“I have make-up classes today. Failed a test.”

“Make-up classes?”

“Yeah, I have to go, right?”

“Um…yes…”

Mom listened to what I said, her eyes wide with surprise.

“What? Is it that strange for me to be attending a make-up class?”

“It’s not that, I just…”

“……”

Mom hesitated with a troubled look on her face, so I tried smiling at her.

“See, I still want to graduate, after all.”

“Kana…”

“So I thought I’d give it my best.”

“…I see.”

Mom didn’t say much, but a gentle smile formed at the corners of her mouth.

“Well then, Kana, do your best.”

“Yeah.”

I felt a little happy myself. It had been so long since we’d had a proper conversation as mother and daughter.

—

Returning to school after so long felt strangely nostalgic.

It had only been a month, but it felt like years had passed.

“Kana!”

When I entered the classroom, Mayu and Arisa were already there. It looked like we could sit anywhere, so I took a seat near them.

“It’s been a while, Kana!”

“Yeah, it has. So you two also came for make-up classes.”

“My mom kept nagging me to go! I don’t want to repeat the year, so here I am.”

“Same here~. I can’t believe I’m wasting a day of summer break on this…”

Watching the two of them sprawled lazily over their desks, I couldn’t help but laugh and shrug.

At that moment, the teacher entered the classroom, walked to the front, and said, “Alright, let’s start the make-up class.”

“Wait, Teacher, are we the only ones doing this make-up class?”

“That’s right. The others have already met their requirements in previous sessions. It’s just the three of you who haven’t finished.”

“What!? That’s so embarrassing!”

“If you’re embarrassed, you should’ve come sooner. Now, let’s get started.”

And so, our make-up class—just for the three of us—began.

—

The make-up class, which was only supposed to last until noon, ended up going until evening because our grades were so bad.

(Ugh, I want to hang out with Kenji already…)

During class, I secretly sent a Lime message to Kenji.

“Sorry, Kenji! Looks like I’ll be here until the evening!”

He replied right away.

“Got it. Around what time?”

“Maybe around 5 p.m.?”

“Alright, I’ll come by around that time.”

“Thanks!”

(Hurry up, I want to finish and go have fun!)

With that restless feeling, we tackled our studies.

Finally, it ended around 4:50 p.m.

Studying in front of the teacher again left the three of us exhausted.

“Whew, it’s finally over…”

“Yeah, that was long!”

“Okay, all three of you. See you after summer break. Make sure you finish your homework.”

“Huh? Teacher, can’t I get a break after working so hard today?”

“Don’t be silly. If you don’t fail, you won’t need make-up classes. So study properly. Take care on your way home.”

With that, the teacher left the classroom. Now, I should head to Kenji…but wait. Wasn’t Kenji coming here to meet me? Should I stay?

“Hey, Kana.”

“Hmm? What’s up, Arisa?”

“What are you doing after this? Mayu and I are planning to go to Stoba.”

“Sorry, I’ve got other plans.”

“What? Seriously?”

“Kana, you’ve had a lot of plans lately. What’s up?”

“Well…it’s summer break, so I’m just hanging out here and there.”

“Wow! It must be nice to have spending money. So, how much did you get from ‘Daddy’ this month?”

Mayu leaned in with a sly grin.

“…I stopped, actually. The ‘daddy’ stuff.”

“Huh? You stopped?”

“Yeah.”

“Why? You were doing it so much before. I mean, we do it too, but not like you did.”

“……”

Yeah, I’m not doing it anymore. I just don’t feel like it.

There are a few reasons, but mostly because I want to have more time. I’d rather spend the time I used to meet ‘daddies’ with Kenji.

If I have time, I want to spend it with him, or on things for him.

And there’s…another reason, I guess. This one’s harder to explain…

I don’t want to meet other guys one-on-one anymore. If Kenji were doing something like ‘mommy’ activities, I’d definitely feel jealous. Kenji’s so kind that I’m sure people would take him seriously, even if it’s just casual.

That’s why I thought…I should stop. I don’t want to do to Kenji what would hurt me if he did it. Plus, hiding my ‘daddy’ activities from him was a burden, so stopping felt like the right choice.

“Oh!? Wait, isn’t today exactly ‘one month’?”

At that moment, Mayu looked at the date written on the blackboard and said that. I immediately understood what Mayu was talking about, but Arisa asked Mayu, “What? What is it?”

“Look, look, Arisa! Kana has been with that introverted guy for exactly a month today!”

“Ah! That thing! The punishment game!”

“Yeah, yeah! Finally, Kana is free! It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?”

“……………………”

“So? So? Did you take five two-shot photos as promised? Mayu-sensei will check!”

“Ah, um, I forgot my smartphone today.”

Saying that, I quickly told a lie. The truth is, it was in my bag. I didn’t want to show it because it contained precious memories of Kenji and me.

“You forgot your smartphone!? That’s a lie! There’s no way Kana would forget her smartphone! Come on, where did you hide it?”

“Stop it. I really don’t have it.”

“Well, well, I understand if you feel embarrassed. After all, it’s a two-shot with someone you reluctantly went out with because of a punishment game! But a promise is a promise! You have to show it to us!”

“Kana! We’re friends, right!”

“Just stop. I really don’t have it…”

As we talked, I suddenly felt a gaze from the entrance of the classroom, so I instinctively looked in that direction.

…There stood Kenji.

“Kenji…!?”

I almost asked why he was here, but then I remembered that Kenji was coming to meet me. He was here to go out with me.

“……………………”

Kenji didn’t say anything. He just stood there quietly.

So I had a feeling that Kenji had overheard our conversation.

“Oh? Isn’t that Kana’s boyfriend (temporary) over there?”

“Wait! It’s ‘temporary’!”

Arisa’s laughter echoed in the classroom, saying that Mayu was funny!

I felt my body freeze, and my mind went blank.

…I had no idea what Kana and the others were talking about.

…No, it’s not that I didn’t understand…I didn’t want to understand.

“I understand how you feel embarrassed. After all, it’s a two-shot with someone you reluctantly went out with because of a punishment game!”

(A two-shot with someone I reluctantly went out with because of a punishment game…?)

Kana, that’s a lie, right…? There’s no way Kana was reluctantly going out with me because of a punishment game. After all, she was the one who confessed to me. That’s why we could date…

…No, wait. Could it be that the confession itself was a punishment game? If that were the case, everything would make sense…

“Hey, hey, boyfriend (temporary), don’t you have a smartphone?”

A friend of Kana, who sat near her, spoke to me.

“If you have a smartphone, show us the photos.”

“Photos…?”

“Don’t you have some taken with Kana? Show us!”

“……………………”

“Hey, hello? (temporary)?”

“Aren’t you hearing me?”

“Geez, this is why introverts are no good.”

“…!”