I Want to Know Everything About Love - Chapter 6: A Boy and a Confession (2)

In normal school life, I don’t go to the back of the school building.

As a high school student, I don’t play hide-and-seek, and what do I do when I go to a place where there are only cherry blossoms, orange trees, asphalt, and warehouses?

I thought that if the cherry blossoms weren’t in bloom, I would have nothing to do except when I was stealing oranges. I can’t predict that it will be the venue for the announcement of the results of the love letter.

Of course, I’ve never stolen oranges.

I’m just wondering what oranges taste like when I don’t know why I’m bearing fruit in the corner of the school building. It’s time to bear big fruit.

It’s just simple curiosity.

──Aaaaahhh, I can’t even think of anything else!

My heart is crushed by the tension that I’m about to arrive at the back of the school building. My heart beats against my ribs.

I want to go home. I want to go back to the soil. I am a worm.

Earthworms don’t have legs, so my steps are heavy…

“Cheer up. Put your feet forward. Move! Right! Left!”

“Uuugh…”

I don’t know because I’m walking with my eyes closed and my back pressed, but I think it’s about time I got to the back of the school building.

“There’s somebody there! From Class 3… that is the new transfer student. What was his name again?”

My legs tremble even more. My heart is pounding.

If I just keep moving forward, everything will be fine. Just do something about it. Let this somehow work out.

…

After a few steps further away, Mika-chan’s hand comes off my back. I haven’t opened my eyes yet.

“Thank you for your kindness. What about these? Should I take off my shoes?”

It’s Mika-chan’s voice.

Take off the shoes? We’re behind the school building, right?

“Aah, you’ve come. No need to take your shoes off. Look, I’m wearing shoes, too. Having both of you here is a pleasant surprise.”

I hear a calm boy’s voice. It doesn’t sound familiar.

A refined voice, neither high nor low.

“Unfortunately, I only came with her. She’s the one who came because of the letter. Go on, you should introduce yourself.”

“Y-yes, my name is Kihino Yuki, and I’m in Class 1-2. Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you too, Kihino-san. My name is Ootsuki Taiyou. From Class 1-3. Have you heard of me?”

──I have absolutely no idea who he is.

I hope I’m not making a strange face.

“Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you too. Can you tell me how you two are connected?”

“I’m Nijou Mika. I’m in the same class as Yuki. I have to attend my best friend’s important event.”

“Best friend. That’s nice.”

I have to say something.

My mind is so white that I can’t think of a word. My eyes are still closed, so I can’t see.

“Yuki-chan, are you still closing your eyes?” That’s rude.”

Rude…?

No, no! I don’t mean that!

“I’m sorry. No, it’s my first time meeting a boy, and I’m nervous…”

I don’t want to be mistaken, so I open my eyes reflexively.

He was three to four meters away.

＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝

◯ Author’s Comment

I miss those days when I promised to go home with the person I was interested in and we were meeting at the school gate…