About the Cool Beauty in My Class Declaring She Won’t Eat Anything Except My Bento - 9

Chapter 9: …I’m Not Short

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“Haa…”

“Is your hatred for exercise always that intense?”

Time passed, and it was now Monday, a week later. With the Sports Day finally happening this weekend, we were about to decide our participation events during homeroom.

“It’s not that I hate it, per se… I just don’t like the idea of a Sports Day where I’m forced to become a sideshow.”

“Your way of thinking is twisted.”

“Well, I’m not exactly gifted at sports to begin with. Unlike you.”

“I’m on a soccer scholarship, after all.”

Shu laughed, flashing a grin. Our school was famous for being a soccer powerhouse, and Shu had enrolled on a sports scholarship. He was athletic, had a great personality, and was incredibly approachable to boot. It was a mystery why he didn’t have a girlfriend.

“Shu-kun, what are youuu doing!”

“Ow! Your slaps are too strong, Ao!”

“It’s fine because I only do it to you, Shu-kun.”

“You shouldn’t be doing it to me either… honestly.”

(Ah, never mind. There are plenty of reasons why Shu doesn’t have a girlfriend.)

The female student who had energetically slapped Shu’s back was Aoi Kurumi. If Ayano was a “cool beauty,” then Kurumi could be called a “bubbly beauty.” She had a personality that brightly illuminated the whole class, and with her light flaxen short hair and baby face, she was undeniably beautiful.

Apparently, she was Shu’s childhood friend, and they were always clinging to each other in the classroom. It might be a bit of an unkind way to put it, but since the entire class recognized their dynamic, it was probably fine.

Shu, the versatile heartthrob, and Kurumi, the bright beauty. Both of them should have been popular, but because they had built their own private world, no one could get close to them. It was the kind of precious relationship that made you want to watch from afar rather than get stuck in the middle of it.

“You guys really are…”

“”Eh? What?””

“No, nothing. I just thought your two are really good looking.”

“”Hehe~ Maybe we are!~””

“Are you two sharing a singular brain cell? Your timing is way too perfect.”

I had heard stories about how childhood friends were too close from a young age to ever become lovers, but even so, I couldn’t help but think “just date already.” I felt sorry for the other students who were being kept in a state of agonizing suspense…

“I’ll probably just do the relay like usual. I doubt many people want to volunteer for it anyway.”

“You just want to run.”

“You caught me?”

“I think I’ll do the relay too! I have to pass the baton to Shu-kun as his lawful wife.”

“Then I guess I’ll volunteer for the mixed-gender relay too.”

“Kurata-san… you really have to deny that part.”

Ayano, unable to stay silent any longer, called Shu out in exasperation. Since the bento accident, people stopped saying things to us even when Ayano and I talked at school. Of course, I could still feel gazes of intense envy piercing through me, but thanks to the fact that our connection was now public knowledge, nothing more happened.

In hindsight, it might have been for the best, but knowing the non-cool side of Ayano, I couldn’t help but feel that her school persona was “cold.” It was just my own selfishness, so I would never say it out loud.

“Is Ayano-san going to join the relay race too?”

“I am not.”

“Eeeh! You’re not running with us?”

“I’m certain I will lose to those who specialize in running for their club activities.”

“I think Su-chan wouldn’t lose, though…”

Because she started talking to me, she began talking to Shu, which led to her talking to Kurumi as well. In places I didn’t see, relationships were being built like a row of falling dominoes. Aside from me, everyone else was a student-certified handsome guy or beautiful girl, making it extremely uncomfortable for me to be there.

“Please stop calling me Su-chan… though I suppose you can do it if no one else is around.”

“She said it!! You just said it, didn’t you!?”

Ayano had replied without thinking too deeply, but Kurumi didn’t miss those words and pressed for confirmation with a barrage of energy. When the already energetic Kurumi got even more powerful, even Ayano was surprised. She ended up nodding with wide eyes while saying, “Y-Yes.”

“Everyone! For the girls’ relay, anyone who wants to participate please register here~”

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“I hadn’t intended to run this year, so I was caught off guard…”

“Don’t underestimate our Kurumi, young lady.”

Ayano, who ended up doing the relay after all, had come to my room in her jersey carrying her bento. Being the serious person she was, it seemed she wanted to regain her sense for running in preparation for the Sports Day.

“Come to think of it, do you not exercise, Kirihara-san?”

“Hm? I’m fine. I’m doing the obstacle race.”

“No, I mean the Sports Day aside, things like building muscle or maintaining your physique…”

“It’s a pain.”

“I thought you would say that. Honestly, you won’t grow big if you don’t exercise during your growth spurt.”

“Are you my mom? If I get any taller, your neck is going to snap, Ayano.”

“…I am not short.”

(There’s no point saying that while looking up at me.)

I thought, but I kept quiet because she looked like she’d get mad. I was about 170 centimeters tall, so I wasn’t particularly tall among the boys, but Ayano was even shorter than that, so she was always looking up at me slightly.

When she was close, it looked like she was peering up at me, which increased her childishness. In hindsight, that might be one of the reasons her “cool” side disappeared in front of me. Also, probably because she was going to run, her hair was tied up in a high ponytail, making her look even more like a kid.

“If you like, shall we go running together next time?”

“What would we do if the people from school saw us?”

“Fufu. I’m joking.”

“Geez… Oh, what time do you think you’ll be coming over? I’ll try to have the food ready around then.”

“Thank you. Let’s see… I intend to run for about thirty minutes, but I will take a bath first before coming here…”

“Then just let me know when you’re done running. If I start cooking then, it’ll be perfect.”

“Understood. I’m sorry for making you adjust to my schedule.”

“Don’t worry about it. Good luck with your run.”

“I’m off,” Ayano said as she left my room. The sense of us “living together” was increasing, and it was getting a bit embarrassing.

Since dinner was going to be late today, I sat down in the living room thinking I should finish my assignments first. But right then, I realized a shocking fact.

(Wait… Ayano is coming over to my place right after her bath?)

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