【002】Mad Love

【Tamura Misaki】

That day, the first snow of the year fell.

I woke to the chill in the air.

Looking at the window, I was moved by the sight of the town dyed white.

The doorbell rang. I walked to the entrance and opened the door.

“Good morning, Misa-kun.”

It was Nanaka-san. She was already dressed in her uniform. Akigaoka Academy’s uniform was a blazer. Nanaka-san wore a sweater under her blazer with a white muffler wrapped around her neck.

“…Good morning, Nanaka-san.”

I replied after a moment.

Nanaka-san nodded, looking satisfied.

“You haven’t had breakfast yet, right? Try the leftovers from my breakfast later.”

She handed me a storage container with sandwiches inside.

“I have committee work, so I need to leave early.”

“Ah, yeah. Thanks as always, Nanaka-san.”

“You’re welcome!”

Nanaka-san walked away, waving her hand.

I looked at what she’d given me.

Ham and egg. Tomato and green vegetables. Hash browns. Even for a single sandwich, the effort and care were evident.

My day begins with a greeting from Nanaka-san.

“Thank you.”

Watching Nanaka-san’s retreating figure, I started preparing for school.

【Nakano Nanaka】

Today will be the best day.

I got to see Misa-kun’s face this morning.

I really wanted to spend more time with Misa-kun, but I have committee work, so it can’t be helped. I don’t even want to do committee work, but it’s better to go with the flow for now. It’s more convenient that way.

Still, Misa-kun looked so cool today too.

Drowsy, half-open eyes. Bedhead sticking up adorably. An oversized jersey serving as pajamas. His slightly hunched posture. Misa-kun’s eyes get sharper when he just wakes up. That’s so good too.

It was worth making breakfast so early in the morning.

So cool, Misa-kun.

I want to make you mine already.

What should I do to make you look at me more?

Bully him more.

Isolate him more.

Hurt him more.

More, more, more.

I have to make sure I’m Misa-kun’s only ally. I have to create a world with just Misa-kun and me.

When I arrived at school, I greeted the people already gathered at the school gate.

My committee position is class representative.

Basically, a role like class delegate.

Every Wednesday, we stand at the school gate and do a greeting campaign.

We do this bland activity for the duration of the morning arrival time.

I wonder every time what the point of this greeting activity actually is.

The significance of greetings? Preventing tardiness?

Just standing at the gate saying hello—how is that supposed to lead to a solution?

I absolutely never do meaningless actions.

That’s probably a rule I’ve imposed on myself for living.

So I think there must be meaning to this greeting campaign too.

Simply put, it’s an image boost for the school.

By brazenly showing off our activities to the public at the school gate, we’re appealing that this school is so serious and diligent. Personally, I think shouting greetings loudly in the early morning is no different from being a nuisance to the neighbors, and if you overdo that appeal, isn’t it just like being a phony? But…

“Yo, Nanaka.”

Someone called out to me.

I turned toward the voice.

It was a male class representative from the same class who gave off a refreshing impression.

His name was… what was it again?

I think there were rumors he was popular with the girls.

Wait, did he just call me by my first name? Am I imagining things?

“Nanaka, you got here early. That’s so like you.”

I wasn’t imagining it.

The only boy who gets to call me by my first name is Misa-kun.

The name spoken by someone like you, some nobody, was deeply unpleasant, nauseating, and made me want to physically sew that mouth shut with thread.

“This much is normal~”

But I answered as if nothing was wrong.

Playing the Nakano Nanaka they all want to see.

The greeting activity began. From the students entering the school gate, I was searching for Misa-kun’s figure. When will Misa-kun arrive, I wonder…

Next to me, that nameless guy kept talking.

Does he have a thing for me?

Honestly, he’s loud and getting on my nerves.

“Ah, it’s Necchii.”

Nameless guy muttered that.

That got my attention too.

Just then, a short male teacher was about to enter the school gate.

Slightly hunched, wearing a somewhat flashy suit, a middle-aged man.

Rumor has it he’s divorced. The infamous Tanaka-sensei, known for his nasty personality.

Math teacher. He points to students to solve difficult problems and makes them write on the board. Then he nags relentlessly at students who can’t do it.

I’ve been called on several times, but I solved them easily.

Necchii’s frustrated face at that time was quite ridiculous.

I hated Necchii, who was also hated by the class.

Lately, Necchii has been targeting Misa-kun at every opportunity.

Necchii is aware of the fact that Misa-kun is being bullied. And on top of that, he’s participating.

He makes him solve difficult problems, and when he knows he can’t do it, everyone showers him with abuse in unison.

He’s really trash, I think.

“Ah, there’s that bastard Tamura.”

I heard a menacing voice from the nameless guy next to me.

That’s when I saw him.

Misa-kun was walking in his uniform.

Body hunched, gaze fixed on the ground.