I Chose the Plain Girl Instead of the Class’s Top Three Beauties, and Somehow She Became the Heroine - 24

Chapter 24: I Don’t Understand

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《Sora Mukei’s POV》

I didn’t have as much interest in girls as the other boys in my class. That was because I didn’t understand romantic feelings. After the lunchtime exchange ended, as I walked down the hallway back to the classroom, I rubbed my thumb along the edge of the pages of the short story collection I’d received. Several tiny sticky tabs were attached. The small handwritten notes there lingered strangely in my chest.

『This line is gently written, but it hurts.』

Anno-san’s handwriting. It was probably a small memo she wrote while swaying on the train. Even before reading it, my chest warmed just a little. But that “warmth” didn’t have a name. Was this liking her? Or was it the friendship that came from sharing the same hobby? Even after the afternoon chime rang, I didn’t find an answer.

While I opened my notebook, my gaze slid on its own toward the window seats. A black hairpin above her ear. A straight back. Modest lipstick. Day by day, a little more polished than yesterday, a little more polished than today—Anno-san. Why was she trying to change? I liked Anno-san’s vibe, but was this fondness based on love?

I felt like our eyes met, and I hurriedly pulled my gaze back to the board. Her presence felt calming. In the classroom chatter, the air felt softer when she was there. Was that love? I didn’t know. I wasn’t like a light novel protagonist who felt the impulse to hug someone. I still didn’t really understand that stomach-burning feeling of jealousy. When we were standing side by side choosing books at the big store yesterday, I’d enjoyed it.nIf I had to give our relationship a name, what would it be? Was “friends” good enough…?

After school, I stopped by the dojo. After meditation, I practiced the basics—middle punches, front kicks, blocks. My body was honest. When I performed kata, the unnecessary thoughts spilled away. Normally, that was enough, but today was a little different. I didn’t know how to take the “maai,” the proper distance. If danger came, you “stood.” That much I understood. On the train, that single step drew a line. But romance wasn’t a danger. Stepping into someone else’s heart might be the same as breaking your stance. I wanted to protect her straight posture, but if getting closer to her ended up breaking her stance… Imagining that made my front-stance momentarily falter.

“Phew… I can’t focus.”

That had never happened before. My emotions were always flat. Everything was complete with karate and hanging out with Akira. On the train ride home, I read just one story from the short collection.

『Feeling comfortable might be the entrance to love.』”+

A sticky tab marked that scene.

『I like the entrance.』

Those words were written in Anno-san’s handwriting. The words in the poetry collection were beautiful, but I found myself focusing only on the impressions she had written.

“I really do like Anno-san’s vibe.”

I’d felt that somewhere in my chest the whole time. It wasn’t a lie. I really thought so. But I lacked the experience to call it love with certainty. I wanted to make her happy. That Friday night, when I’d given her the keychain, she’d said “thank you” in a slightly trembling voice. I wanted her to feel safe.

Once I got home, I decided to make a “reaction note” on my desk.

“I like the metaphor at the end of episode one. It’s quiet, yet painful. I probably laughed in the same place where the sticky note was.”

When I wrote it down, my chest settled a little. Words gave feelings a handle. Even feelings without names had a place I could touch. My phone vibrated—Akira had messaged me.

『My mission for tomorrow: talk to Mizuki-san in the morning! What about you, Sora?』”

My fingers paused, and I thought about my mission for tomorrow.

『I want to see Anno-san smile.』

『Nice! Go for it.』

Sent. Short, but the most sincere wish I could manage right now. It wasn’t the flashy “resolve” you saw in light novels. But small actions were my specialty. Before getting into bed, a thought from the dojo drifted back to me. The “maai” between me and Anno-san. Closing in or stepping back was something you did after reading the other person’s breathing. I didn’t want to ruin the atmosphere I knew of Anno-san. Instead of showing my stance first, I should respect hers.

Anno-san was changing a little every day. Why she was changing, I didn’t know. So I would also raise the precision of my words a little each day. I wouldn’t lie. I wouldn’t provoke empty expectations. But I also wouldn’t go silent either.

I turned off the light and stared at the darkness of the ceiling. What rose to the surface was the slight smile she showed when we exchanged books. I still hadn’t truly looked into her eyes. If someday Anno-san showed her eyes and smiled… Would I fall in love? I didn’t know. But for now, I was happy.

♢

The next day, I went to school and greeted Anno-san.

“Good morning, Anno-san.”

“Good morning, Mukei-kun.”

When I called out to her, Anno-san was wiping her glasses. She turned around and returned my greeting. Her eyes were so beautiful I found myself unable to say the next words.

“Mukei-kun? What’s wrong?”

She put her glasses back on and asked me.

“N-no, it’s nothing. I was just surprised because it’s the first time I’ve seen you without your glasses.”

“Ah! I’m sorry!”

“Why are you apologizing? I think you look really beautiful.”

“Eh!?”

“Yeah. You’ve been changing little by little, so maybe someday, an Anno-san without glasses would be nice too.”

I honestly thought Anno-san was beautiful.

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