She is Reading My Thoughts Again Today - Chapter 55

Get a Grip Day

Hoshinokawa, Haruka, Makoto.

At lunch break, Mikinori who is now in the same class as Hoshikawa, told me their names. Their names are written in cool kanji characters.

“Sounds like a protagonist from a light novel.”

“I can’t stand the fact that the main character has such a blatantly beautiful face.”

“Yeah, yeah I get it. I get it so don’t put down your chopsticks and stop talking about it!”

My efforts to stop him were in vain. I’m forced to listen to Mikinori’s passionate thoughts on light novels and the bell indicating the end of lunch break at the same time. I think it could’ve been worse. Thanks to this I’m unable to remember the long title of the game he had told me, it really bothers me. Well I’ll be home early today, I’ll just ask him in the evening by message or something.

“You are going home awfully early lately.”

While I’m putting my things into my backpack, a familiar voice reached out to me. Before I knew it, Kisaragi is standing right in front of me. Without thinking, I slowly put a distance between us. I don’t want her to read my thoughts about yesterday. She knows what am I trying to do, but she doesn’t say anything about it. Two meters is much farther than I thought. Why are these two meters feels further than usual? It feels weird, it has been so long that I no longer find it weird when she is next to me. She may already have read everything, but I don’t know what I’m unconsciously think right now and I don’t want to be asked about it.

“Ahh, I just have some things I want to do at home.”

“I see. What are your plans for today?”

A student leaves the classroom, then another one.

“I don’t really have any plans today.”

“Then, why don’t you have a little chat with me. It’s been a while.”

Her black eyes are staring at me. The noisy classroom gradually becomes quitter and Kisaragi’s voice can be clearly heard from a distance. I really want to talk with her, but my heart feels uneasy in front of her. Words that can’t be responded such as ‘ahh’ or ‘ehh’ came out of my mouth. The way she tilts her head is very cute. No, it’s okay to think about it but don’t do it. Don’t be so honest about it.

“Excuse me.”

I turned my attention to the sound of opening door. Hoshikawa comes in quickly and stops between me and Kisaragi.

“Excuse me.”

“Why do you have to say it twice?”

“The first time I said it is to this classroom, and the second time I said it is to the both of you.”

Is he just being polite or is he being sarcastic? His tone is bright and cheerful, making it difficult to read his malice.

“There is one thing I would like to ask you.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“Why do you call Kisaragi using honorifics?”

He certainly didn’t call anyone else he knows using honorifics, and while talking to me, his tone is much heavier and sharper. Yet, in front of Kisaragi, he is calling her with honorifics and he talks politely. Does he just respect her so much or what? While I’m thinking about it, his ears are getting redder and redder. The reason why he uses honorifics in front of Kisaragi is making him embarrassed? If that’s the case I can only think of one reason. It must because of Kisaragi.

“Hey wait, I can’t answer that question in front of Kisaragi-san.”

It’s something that can’t be answered in front of Kisaragi. Kisaragi should be able to see Hoshikawa blushing with all his might. His reaction is too easy to be read, you can tell that he likes Kisaragi even if you can’t read his thoughts. It’s just too obvious.

“Why don’t you sit down and talk about it? It seems everyone else has gone home.”

“Yeah, sure.”

She looks at Hoshikawa curiously, but she doesn’t continue to ask about it. Hoshikawa sits beside me while Kisaragi is in front of him. I thought maybe I should leave, but to think about it again, a chat would be nice, so I took my seat. I took a glance at Hoshikawa, it seems that his attention is only on Kisaragi. He is staring at Kisaragi with his sparkling eyes, he doesn’t even know that I’m looking at him. I can’t stand it any longer. Driven by the feeling I need to say something, I asked her what has been bothering me for a while.

“…speaking of which, you can’t hear anyone’s thoughts right now, can you? Even if it’s just temporary, how does it feel?”

“That is something I want to ask too, because I’m blocking your ability right now. Are you okay? Can you handle it?”

He looks anxious, he leans forward and added another question.

“Yeah, it’s working properly, I can’t read anyone’s thoughts right now. It’s very quiet. It feels kind of unsettling.”

“I knew it, it’s a bit hard to get used of the new feeling. Should I stop it for a moment?”

“No, it’s fine. Just stay like this for now.”

He wanted to say something, but when she assured him that she is okay, he closed his mouth shut once.

“Okay. Then, can I ask you another question?”

“What is it?”

“If I had returned to you little sooner, would you look back at me?”

I get it now, this is exactly how it feels when your eyes widen at such a sudden question.

“What’s wrong? It’s not like you talking about such thing.”

It’s not surprising Kisaragi would think so. Even I who had only spoken to him for a while, knows that he is not the kind of person who would usually talk about that kind of things.

“Once I saw that look on your eyes, I knew I no longer have a chance to win. So let me ask you a what if question.”

After Kisaragi think about it for a while, she opens her mouth heavily.

“I don’t fall in love with someone just because he can inhibit my ability.”

“I see. I don’t want to understand, but I do.”

He stood up and our gazes met. Instantly, he glared at me with his sharp eyes.

“No matter how much Kisaragi-san may approve you, I won’t approve you. Don’t take advantage of your position as an insensitive novel protagonist. Hurry up and get a grip of yourself you pathetic.”

I had been thinking that since I’m in front of Kisaragi, I would be fine, but I am stunned of what he said to me. I didn’t expect he would say something like that to me in front of Kisaragi. It’s frustrating that I can’t say anything back about the ‘insensitive novel protagonist’. He turns away and leaves resolutely. Then Kisaragi stands up. When I stand up a few seconds later, he stops on the spot.

“Oh, don’t get me wrong. I still can’t give up on Kisaragi-san yet. Although we are in different classes, you can always come to me for help. I will talk with you about anything, and even in some cases, I’ll even use my strength to help.”

After saying that, Hoshikawa left the classroom. Thinking about the emotions in his words, I can’t look away from the direction where he left for a while. I wish I didn’t stay and chat, but it’s too late. No, it must happen at some point after all.

He told me to get a grip of myself and left saying he can’t give up on Kisaragi just yet.

At last, there is no backing out now.

“Kisaragi.”

“Yeah.”

“I’m getting a grip of myself now.”

“…yeah.”

“I like you, Nao Kisaragi.”