Chapter 44

After school, I quickly started packing up to leave.  

Apparently, there was some kind of discussion and preparation for the cultural festival happening in the classroom, but my presence wasn’t necessary in the slightest.  

Just as I was about to stand up, someone else, also carrying his bag, approached me from the front.  

“Hey, seriously, let’s go. Even just to watch.”  

It was Sumahiko. He was talking about that “Princess Roayale” thing again. Since yesterday, every time he’s seen me, it’s been the same thing over and over.  

“You’re so damn persistent. I already told you I’m not going.”  

“But it looks like Princess’s gonna be there too. Everyone’s getting hyped about it.”  

I didn’t even wait to hear the rest before getting up from my seat and leaving the classroom. I walked quickly down the still mostly empty hallway.  

Even then, I could hear him following behind me, calling out, “Oi, come on.”  

I was starting to lose my patience. Stopping in my tracks, I turned around and glared at him.  

“Seriously, what’s your deal? What are you even trying to do with all this?”  

I couldn’t figure out his reasoning. What was the point? What did he gain from this?  

Maybe he wasn’t expecting me to snap back like that, because Sumahiko averted his gaze, hesitating for a moment. Then, as if making up his mind, he blurted out—  

“Well, you see, it’s… uh… I just… I wanna be popular.”  

“Huh?”  

“You know, like… being in the know about all the behind-the-scenes stuff, getting involved in some risky business, looking like I’ve got connections and all that?”  

He said it with a completely serious face.  

A huge sigh escaped me, and my shoulders slumped. So that was really all there was to it. He was an idiot, but somehow, I couldn’t completely hate him for it.  

“You’re such an idiot.”  

“What, you thought I was the same as those guys? I mean, sure, I play nice with them, but even I think they’re kinda messed up, you know?”  

He started rambling, making excuses for himself.  

I only half-listened, tuning him out as I started walking again. Of course, Sumahiko stuck to my side like glue.  

“Hey, at this point, maybe I should just go full-on knight-in-shining-armor. If I step in and save Princess, she’d totally fall for me, right?”  

“What?”  

“I mean, I’m being serious, wouldn’t it be disgusting if that gorilla guy actually ended up dating Hime? He’d probably start bragging that he took Miki-chan’s virginity or something… I really don’t wanna hear that kind of crap.”  

I wanted to believe that wouldn’t happen… but considering how he yelled in the boys’ restroom, I wouldn’t put it past him.  

The whole thing was revolting, but in the end, the ones who take action get what they want.  

One way or another, Princess would eventually end up with someone. Even if that someone was me, Sumahiko would still complain.  

“Or, hear me out—we could go tell Masuda and get him to storm in and take care of everything.”  

“Oh, now that’s a good idea. You go do that.”  

“Yeah, but if they found out I was the snitch, they’d totally kill me later. That’s why you should come with me to Masuda’s. You’d have my back, right?”  

“Hah? Don’t drag me into this. I already told you—I’m not going.”  

At that, Sumahiko suddenly stepped in front of me, blocking my path.  

For once, he had a serious look on his face—an expression I’d never seen before.  

“What?”  

“Dude… is this really you? You’re kinda bringing the mood down.”  

“Hah? What the hell did you think I was like? I’ve always been like this.”  

“No way. You used to be more reckless. You used to pick fights with crazy upperclassmen. Hell, when you set off that fire extinguisher, I actually thought that was badass.”  

Of all things, this was what he decided to bring up?  

Back then, he just laughed at me and made it into some kind of joke.  

I averted my gaze and muttered,  

“That was just dumb. Anyway, I’ve got plans today. Don’t try to stop me.”  

“What? What plans?”  

Ignoring his scowl, I shoved past Sumahiko and headed for the stairs, skipping steps as I went down.  

He shouted something at my back, but I didn’t bother looking back.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I stepped out of the school gate, blending in with the sparse shadows of other students.  

Outside, I met up with Yuki, and together, we walked straight along the road home.  

I pushed my bike alongside me, matching Yuki’s pace. No rush, no hurry—our pace was slower than usual.  

Yuki, on the other hand, seemed a little off.  

Normally, she’d start talking nonstop even if I left her alone, but today, she seemed oddly quiet—less energetic than usual. I glanced at her and spoke.  

“What’s up? You’re awfully quiet.”  

“Mm… Well, you know, it’s the first time you’ve invited me out.”  

“Oh? Are you nervous?”  

I poked her in the side, and she stiffened up with a jolt, her face turning red in a way that was almost comical. After smacking my shoulder a few times, she went quiet again. Then, after a moment—  

“…H-Hey, you better not be rough, okay? Be gentle.”  

“I know, I know. I’ll be real slow and thorough.”  

“You sound like some pervy old man.”  

She shot back with her usual playful remark. Looked like she was starting to get back to her usual self.  

Yuki tilted her head curiously.  

“But after all that refusing, why the sudden change of heart?”  

“No real reason. Just figured… whatever, it doesn’t matter anymore.”  

“Don’t say it like that! What do you mean, ‘it doesn’t matter’?”  

“I finally realized how cute you are.”  

“Wow, took you long enough. That lag is insane. So, you finally decided to go out with me?”  

“Didn’t say that. I figured we could do it first and then think about it.”  

“What? You’re the worst.”  

“Adults don’t go around asking, ‘Will you be my girlfriend?’ right?”  

“Ohhh? And what do you know about adults, you brat?”  

It was our usual silly banter. But talking like this helped take my mind off things.  

Right now, I just wanted to be with someone. When I was alone, my thoughts kept spiraling in all the wrong directions.  

“It’s not like we have to do anything. Sometimes, I just wanna be spoiled by Onee-san.”  

“Oh? You wanna be pampered? That means you have to listen to everything I say, you know?”  

“I wanna suck your boobs.”  

“Wow, you’re really going for it. What kinda play are you aiming for here?”  

We kept up our back-and-forth as we strolled along the sidewalk.  

Ahead and behind us, there were other students in the same school uniform. Some of them might’ve been thinking, What’s with these idiots flirting in public? 

But honestly, I didn’t mind.  

After a while, we stopped at a red light at an intersection.  

Across the diagonal crosswalk, a group of kids, probably elementary schoolers, were raising their hands as they walked.  

It was unusual to see them around at this hour. Maybe they were coming back from a field trip or something.  

“They’re all so well-behaved,” Yuki murmured beside me.  

I heard her, but I didn’t even nod in response.  

I just kept watching the children as they crossed.  

They all wore little yellow hats, their heights varying, making the line look uneven. Though their path wavered slightly, they still followed the white lines carefully.  

At some point, I found myself unable to look away.