An after school affair with an unattainable flower - Chapter 3 (Cleome): Part 3

Q24: What is your impression of Hana Takamine, or what kind of person do you think she is?

Answer it.

“… ,… ,…TF?”

What the h–l is with this problem?

Considering the unexpectedness of the question that came in front of my eyes, I checked many times just to see if the print was correct.

I thought that maybe my eyes were going crazy, but even so, right there was clearly written,

Q24 What is your impression of Hana Takamine, or what kind of person do you think she is?

Answer me

was questioned.

I held my head in pain.

“What kind of question is this even, Takamine-san?”

When I tried to answer such a question, it made me forget whatever I had studied so far. In the end I reached out to the answer column on the printout.

Thinking about how I was looked after for my studies by her till now, as how I was completely at the receiving end from her single sidedly, I came to the conclusion that I was in a position to ignore the problem that was asked in here. Also, since Takamine-san is now at the restroom, it’s probably the best time to write this down.

“Is it about what Takamine-san’s appearance is like?”

—- 『Good-looking, Innocent, and Talented. 』

The first thing that came to my mind was the impression that would be the answer from any 10 random students at this school, when asked about her.

But when I tried to jot down that answer that came to my mind, the pen in my hand stopped.

Doesn’t it sound like I’m wooing her if I answered like this?

In reality, I don’t think it’s possible to catch it in that sense, but once the thought has crossed my mind, it’s generally hard to get rid of it.

I decided to stop writing that, and write something else.

With that in mind, I put the pen on the paper once again.

…and stopped.

What do I really think of her?

“… you look perplexed.”

“Uwaaa!”

I was so absorbed in my thoughts that I didn’t realize she was peering into my answer sheet from behind.

“Don’t startle me, Takamine-san.”

Kusu Kusu

She laughed in soft chuckles.

“Rather, didn’t Shiranui-kun get startled all by himself, right?”

At least I can certify that the reason behind me getting startled is not me alone.

Come to think of it…

I’ve been surprised by her many times already.

In the beginning, she even pretended to be worried, but now, she looked like enjoying every part of it, laughing at me like this.

Ah, I see, she may have been looking for an answer that only I could answer, not an answer that anyone would answer, such as the combination of “talent and beauty”.

When I thought that, the pen in my hand moved rather naturally.

After I put down my pen, she took the print from me and read it aloud.

“‘Prankster, Mischievous’…?”

“Un. Because Takamine-san, you also have fun when you see me startled, don’t you?”

“Yeah, but still, isn’t ‘Prankster and Mischievous’ kind of childish?”

“I don’t know if it is childish. But I did wonder whether Takamine-san likes to make someone surprised. Nevertheless, my current impression of Takamine-san is that.”

“I like pranks…, … heee~, … I see.”

She put her fingers to her lips and narrowed her eyes curiously.

“…As I thought, Shiranui-kun is interesting.”

“Hue?”

“You gave me an answer that was completely beyond my expectations, so I started thinking on those lines… .By the way, were you able to solve all the problems?”

“Ah… yeah”

“Yoshi~. I’ll score it.”

Saying that, she slowly began to score the paper.

Am I really interesting?

Well, it’s true that when anyone is hit by something that goes completely beyond human expectations, it’s rather intriguing.

But am I really that interesting?

and by ‘as I thought’, doesn’t that mean that she had found me amusing for sometime now?

…I can’t understand at all.

“Un! All the questions are correct! With this Tomorrow’s test will be fine.”

The print was returned from her beautiful fingertips.

“You know, there’s something I have to apologize to you about, Shiranui-kun.”

“?”

I wonder what it is.

“Actually, later today, after this… I have to attend a call for a confession… So, I have to go.”

“Eh? Just for something like that?”

My heart started making unwanted sounds.

“Go on, I’ll be fine. Tomorrow’s test I will surely meet Takamine-san’s expectations.”

“Re- Really? I, I’m sorry again…”

“Takamine-san is not at fault here, and look, there’s someone waiting for you, right? Go on, hurry.”

I knew the cause and identity of this rumbling in my chest.

That’s why I sent her in a way that didn’t feel rough nor smooth in any way.

“Then, tomorrow. Let’s do our best, Shiranui-kun.”

“Un, thank you”

She left the classroom leaving me behind.

…But right afterwards, she suddenly returned to the classroom with just her face peeking in.

“Shiranui-kun! It’s not like I like playing pranks on someone, I just like looking at the surprised face of Shiranui-kun.”

“Hue?!”

“See you later then!”

… .Between the open window and the classroom door, the sound of cicadas and the damp summer breeze pass by.

The throbbing in my chest has already disappeared, and instead now I’m in a mood where I wanted to scream high and dance crazily.

I also knew the identity and cause of this high-pitched noise.

She can make me upset and joyful just so easily.

I held my head in agony.

“… .I am just not good with her.”

Without doing anything in particular, my head fell down on the desk.

I noticed later that the ‘Question No. 24’ had a triangle instead of a circle or cross.

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