I Chose the Plain Girl Instead of the Class’s Top Three Beauties, and Somehow She Became the Heroine - 49

Chapter 49: Passing By Each Other

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《Sora Mukei’s POV》

The classroom was like a water surface. Ever since the cultural festival, a single stone had been cast. The stone named Hiroko Anno fell onto the surface, and the ripples spread quietly. The first ripple reached the front seats, the next reached the far end of the hallway, and before anyone realized it… All the way to the neighboring class.

People who had watched the play came to see Hiro-san. Normally, since she wore glasses, some people didn’t notice her. But our classmates didn’t make that mistake. The beautiful, transparent charm that only I had known began catching the light and gaining color, and everyone came to learn of it.

“Hey Hiro-chan, if we change this part of the handout, will it be easier to read?”

“…Yeah, it might be better to make the wording consistent, like with ‘desu/masu.’”

“As expected of you! Thanks!”

Morning, in front of the blackboard. Miura-san’s voice rolled like a bell, while Kogure-san and Tokito-san held out their notes from the side, continuing to ask questions. Hiroko-san adjusted her glasses and added suggestions without hesitation.

Voices that used to stumble now flowed naturally when she talked with Miura-san and the others, and the way she finished her sentences grew a little stronger. A change Hiro-san hadn’t had before. A change I hadn’t been able to give her. Feeling a bit lonely, I stepped forward to say “Good morning,” but another ripple slipped in between us.

“Anno-san, I’m on the library committee, so could you check the bulletin for errors?”

“Understood. I’ll look at it before lunch.”

A girl from the library committee, Akira’s partner, called out to Hiro-san. Her tone was light, but the more people asked her for help, the wider her circle spread. It was a good sign, yet somewhere inside my chest, a hollow space quietly widened.

Hiro-san didn’t appear at the usual bench in the courtyard. I drank my milk alone and returned to the classroom. Inside, Kogure-san was laughing, while Tokito-san and Miura-san gathered around Hiro-san’s desk to eat lunch.

After a brief hesitation, I left the classroom. Some days, it was better not to disturb the flow of her circle than to secure a seat next to her. I thought Hiroko-san glanced my way for a moment, but I pretended not to notice. After school, I spotted Hiro-san in the hallway and tried to call out to her.

“Anno-san, which color is better for the poster?”

“I think white with blue is easier to read.”

“Thanks, that helps!”

Three people, four people—their voices intertwined. Every time a thread tied together, her place in the class grew. After becoming the heroine on stage, she had become the popular girl of the class.

I stepped aside toward the edge so I wouldn’t get in the way as I passed. Right now, Hiroko-san was being filled by someone else. People’s flow was like a river. Even if you threw in one stone, it immediately changed shape. I was happy that Hiroko-san was joining everyone’s circle. And yet, I felt lonely. The contradiction rolled around like a candy stored in a desk drawer. Sweet when placed on the tongue, but with a slight sting in the back of the throat.

On the way home, Akira tapped my shoulder.

“Sora, Anno-san’s been looking good lately.”

“Yeah, she has.”

“You kinda look like a guy whose girlfriend is on loan right now.”

“What kind of metaphor is that?”

“Like, you know how books are read by everyone, but the most important parts are known by the author?”

It was oddly accurate, and I couldn’t help laughing. Akira was sharp only in moments like this. It frustrated me, but it also comforted me. The next day. After finishing the collection of the communication notebooks, I stopped in front of the hallway bulletin board. There, a short passage written by Hiroko-san had been posted.

『Thank you for helping. When we divide what we can do, things go faster.』

Her handwriting was small, but unwavering. I felt as though the shadow at my feet had shortened a little. The gentle neatness I alone had known was now visible to everyone. I let out a small laugh. But I was a background character, blending into the crowd.

At lunch, a moment when we might finally be alone arrived, I saw Hiroko-san walking toward the bench. But…

“Hiro-chaaan! Let’s go to the staff room! I gotta return the iron.”

“Ah, I’m coming now.”

From where I stood, I could see Hiroko-san, but she couldn’t see me. For just an instant, she looked my way and walked off. Maybe this was the distance between me and Hiroko-san.

“Hm? Mukei-kun, what are you doing here?”

“Hello, Hino-san.”

“Hello.”

“What about you, Hino-san? You usually practice basketball after lunch.”

“Yeah. Well, sort of.”

“Sort of?”

“Actually, the sprain I got during the cultural festival still hasn’t healed properly.”

“Ah!”

I looked down at Hino-san’s ankle. She had injured it during the festival and couldn’t go on stage. She had said it was just a light sprain back then…

“It’s fine, it’s fine. I’ll heal it and make it to the tournament.”

“Tournament?”

“In basketball, there’s Inter-High. And I want to go to the Winter Cup too, so I’ve gotta work hard. I’m a regular, after all!”

“Yeah, you always work hard, Hino-san, and you’re really good.”

Days went by where I couldn’t talk to Hiroko-san, and talking with Hino-san felt comforting. She was injured too, and she must have been anxious. Was there anything I could do for her?

“If anything comes up, just tell me. I’ll help.”

“It’s okay. There’s not much to do for a sprain anyway. More like, I just have to be careful.”

“That’s true.”

“Yeah! Ahaha. But thanks.”

Time spent with Hino-san felt easier, different from when I was with Akira.

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