After I Picked up a Notebook Filled With Intense Emotions, the Girls Started Acting Strange - Chapter 31

I saw two people at the other end of the room.

When they walked into the family restaurant, the air suddenly changed.

It wasn’t just me who felt it. Sena-san, Yukina, and even the other students turned to look at them.

The girl’s silver hair stood out even indoors, shining softly under the light.

It was like she carried the cold air of a winter morning with her. It was so clear and pure.

Her beauty didn’t even seem human, and it made both men and women hold their breath.

The restaurant that was full of chatter a moment ago fell completely silent.

It was as if she had some kind of magic that drew everyone’s eyes to her.

“Hehehe. Everyone’s staring at us. They probably think we’re a beautiful couple.”

“Shindou-kun. Don’t go ahead like that. We need to wait for the staff to show us our seats.”

Shindou’s words completely ruined the atmosphere.

He looked good enough but the girl behind him shone so brightly that no one could focus on him at all.

Two of them…Ha.

It wasn’t really strange.

Shindou often hung out with Sena-san, Yukina, and Kuroe-san before. Right now, Sena-san and Yukina are with me.

So Kuroe-san being with Shindou wasn’t odd at all. But still… I couldn’t shake off this strange feeling.

And then there was the notebook.

Ever since Yukina saw it at home, her behavior had changed.

She didn’t seem like the owner of that notebook.

Which meant the last possible person left was her in the end.

The silver-haired girl standing there.

It only made sense that she was the last candidate.

When she appeared, time seemed to stop for a moment.

Then, thanks to Shindou’s comment, the restaurant returned to normal.

The customers went back to their conversations, but a few still stole glances at Kuroe-san.

““…””

“Um… you two okay?”

I asked carefully when I noticed Sena-san and Yukina staring at me with narrowed eyes.

I thought they’d react to Shindou showing up, but it didn’t seem to be about that.

“Kuroe-san. She is really pretty. I get it. I don’t want to, but I do. I get it but it’s fine. I’ll just take care of everything for you instead. I’ll spoil you so much you won’t need anyone else…”

“I should dye my hair silver too… and change my contacts… make my skin paler… How do I become half-foreign after I’m already born? Maybe if I die and get reborn…”

They both sighed at the same time and were clearly lost in their own worlds. I had to clear this misunderstanding fast.

“It’s not like I was staring at her or anything. I just looked because of some stuff that happened recently with Shindou. That’s all.”

“Really? Really, really? Huh? You only have eyes for me? Hehe.”

“Shindou? Oh, I didn’t even see him. He was there?”

That was kind of harsh.

And I really hoped Yukina would come back to reality soon.

“Well, let’s just ignore them and focus on studying! It’s almost time to switch seats, right?”

“Eh? I don’t know what you’re talking about~”

“Tch, this damn flirt…”

A conversation I really shouldn’t be listening to.

When those two were with Shindou earlier, things seemed a lot calmer… Guess they just can’t get along after all.

“Anyway, I’ve got something I want to ask you two.”

“Hmm? What? You wanna know my three sizes? Then, from the top 90─”

“No, that’s not what I meant…”

“I knew it… nobody cares about my body anyway…”

This conversation is going nowhere.

“Come on, Yuki-chan! You’re derailing everything. Let’s hear him out. Maybe it’s something important about us.”

Don’t look at me like that, all full of hope…

What exactly do they think I’m about to say?

“Ahem. You two, are you close with Kuroe-san? I mean, you guys used to hang out a lot with Shindou too.”

“Oh, Shiumi-kun, are you seriously bringing up another girl right now?”

“That’s cruel. You already have me and still talk about someone else?”

“N-no, that’s not what I meant at all! It’s just Kuroe-san doesn’t really talk to anyone, right? But she seems fine talking with Shindou. You two were there a lot, so I was just wondering what kind of relationship they have.”

I somehow managed to calm them down before they went off the rails and asked about Kuroe-san.

The more I thought about her, the more mysterious she seemed.

Back in our first year, she became famous for her stunning looks.

But she never tried to get close to anyone.

A few guys, even some upperclassmen, confessed to her but everyone knew how that ended.

She kept her distance from everyone, boys and girls alike, and always stayed alone.

So why did she start spending time with Shindou?

It’d be a lie to say I wasn’t curious.

“Hmm, we talked with her when she was around but…”

“To be honest, we never really talked much outside of that.”

“I see. Then do you know how she and Shindou got close?”

“Oh yeah. Something about Shindou saving her from danger or something? I thought it was just one of his lies, but Kuroe-san actually admitted it.”

Whoa. No trust at all.

Still, if that story’s true, it would make sense that she opened up to him after that.

But that still doesn’t match with what’s written in the notebook.

That thing sounded like it was written by someone who’d loved him long before that.

“Excuse me, please use this table.”

“Thank you.”

“Come on, Rei. You sit first. Ladies first.”

…Right next to us.

While we were talking, they got seated at the table across the aisle. It was close enough to see and hear everything.

And for some reason, Shindou seemed even more showy than before.

More than that, I really didn’t want to get noticed.

“Oh my, Shiumi-kun. What a coincidence seeing you here.”

“—!”

But of course, things didn’t go that smoothly.

It was Kuroe-san who noticed us first and called out.

Then Shindou realized it too and glared our way like he was trying to warn us off.

But that only lasted a second.

The next moment, he put on his usual smug smile and walked over.

Your zipper’s still down, idiot.

“Hey, Shiomi. What a surprise running into you here… You still got that plain old face.”

Leave me alone.

Before I could say it, Sena-san and Yukina stepped forward.

“Shindou. What do you want? I told you not to show up in front of me again. You’re such an eyesore.”

“Yeah, seriously. Or are you gonna ignore Kuroe-san again like you did last time with me? I told you that was a bad idea, didn’t I? Or did you already forget?”

“Ugh.”

Strong.

Both of them hit him with sharp words the moment he showed up.

Shindou flinched for a second.

Come on, you had to know this would happen before walking over here.

“Are you sure you want to talk to me like that?”

“Can you not talk because your breath stinks.”

“So gross.”

“Ggh, anyway, I’m about to study alone with Rei.”

“And?”

“I can see both of you are being egged on by that guy. If you don’t wake up soon, it will be too late to fix things, are you okay with that?”

““…Huh?””

“Haha. Because Rei and I are dating now.”

““─Gasp!?””

S-seriously?

Even I froze, and Sena-san and Yukina glanced at each other in disbelief.

“Well, I might reconsider things if you two apologize…”

Their faces twisted like they’d bitten into something bitter.

Not regret, just pure irritation.

…And seriously, how can this guy say something like that right in front of Kuroe-san? That’s just way too low.

“Anyway, don’t get jealous when Rei and I start acting all lovey-dovey, alright?”

“Just study.”

Sena-san snapped back sharply.

Then, another shadow appeared from behind him.

“Oh my, Shindou-kun. What are you doing and leaving me all alone?”

“Ah, Rei. I was just saying hi. I thought I should tell them the good news about us dating.”

You took forever to get to that part.

“I see. Still, Shindou-kun… do you remember the promise you made me earlier?”

“Promise…? Yeah. Of course I do!”

“Really? Because it sounded like you were trying to flirt with Sena-san and Orihara-san just now.”

“N-no, you must’ve misheard!? R-right. I’ll go get us some drinks from the bar!”

“…Looks like I’ll have to punish you later.”

Like the wind, Shindou rushed off toward the drink bar.

From Kuroe-san’s reaction, it seemed that they really were dating.

Though honestly, it already looked like she was the one wearing the pants in that relationship…

“I’m sorry for interrupting.”

“It’s fine…”

“Is it really true? You’re going out with him?”

“Yes. It’s true.”

The two girls fell silent, disbelief written all over their faces.

Any trace of their old feelings for Shindou was completely gone.

“Well then, I’ll head back to my seat. I’ll try not to make too much noise.”

With that, Kuroe-san turned to leave.

But then─.

“(I’m glad the plan worked out.)”

“─!”

I heard her mutter softly under her breath.

Wait, could it be…

That notebook was all part of her plan to make Shindou hers…?