The Day After I Told My Shut-In Genius Childhood Friend, Who’s Highly Dependent on Me, “I Got Confessed To,” She Showed Me a Hypnosis App - Chapter 20

◆ “Momose Nanaka”

Around the time it started to get dark outside, I got a message from Honamin.

“I’m sorry. Something came up, so I can’t go on the date.”

The moment I saw it, my mind went blank.

“Eh?”

—Was I rejected?

This morning, I asked Honamin out on a date in the nurse’s office. He looked unsure, but he nodded. I was sure he did.

So why all of a sudden?

Didn’t he say he had no plans?

(…Huh?)

I couldn’t believe it, so I kept staring at the message. Then something felt off.

(―Is this really Honamin?)

The message felt very distant, like it was written to a stranger. And no other message followed.

It felt cold. That didn’t seem like him at all.

If it were Honamin, he would probably say something like,

—I’m really sorry! I forgot I already had plans that day!

—I feel so bad about this, but could we change it to another day…?

Something like that.

(…Maybe that’s a bit too much?)

It might not be that dramatic, but if he had plans, I’m sure he would suggest another day.

…Well, I don’t know for sure.

But I don’t think he would send such a short message.

Yeah. The more I think about it, the more it feels wrong.

(Anyway, I’ll just ask him tomorrow.)

I don’t want to let these unclear feelings ruin everything. We’re meeting tomorrow anyway, so I’ll ask him then.

I decided to face it head-on.

If it’s a no, then it’s a no.

But I want a reason I can accept.

◇

The test period began.

Around this time, most students get into a strange mood. Some study and still feel calm. Some study and feel nervous. Some don’t study and feel calm, and some don’t study and feel nervous.

If I had to say which one I was… I was the second type in the first group. I studied, but I didn’t feel very calm.

(I had Mio and Senpai help me, I can’t get bad scores…)

Even if I did badly, neither of them would get angry. Still, it’s a matter of pride.

Since they took the time to help me, I want to show some results.

As someone who takes classes seriously, I really want to avoid extra lessons. Not that my grades are that bad, though.

And so, the first subject was over.

(―It was okay, I guess.)

Hard to say. I answer Japanese mostly by feeling. I think I did fine on kanji, but the questions about stories and writing answers? I can only pray.

With a sigh, I opened my notebook for the next test, Japanese history. A boy nearby asked, “How was it, Class Representative?” I answered, “It was okay.”

Then I met the eyes of Momose-san, who was sitting ahead of me.

(Huh?)

She was coming closer.

“Honamin?”

Bang, she slammed her hand on my desk.

The boy next to me jumped in surprise.

I was shocked too.

Momose-san felt really scary today.

“W-what is it?”

Some classmates noticed her and watched us nervously.

The classroom was noisy after the test, but only the space around me went quiet under this strange pressure.

“Can I ask you one thing?”

“W-what is it?”

Ignoring all the attention, Momose-san dropped a bomb with her usual smile.

“Why did you turn down our date?”

“―Huh?”

Eh, people around us muttered.

The next moment, it turned into loud shouting.

“W-wait! Wh! What!? A date!?”

H-hold on! I have no idea what she’s talking about!?

Everyone in the class stared at me.

“Hey, Class Representative! What do you mean you’re dating Momose-san!?”

“Why did you sneak ahead of us, you double-role guy!?”

“You’re not just with the Student Council President, but also going after someone in our year!?”

The shouting was intense. Their voices were so loud that even people in the hallway noticed. And that last guy, he’s from Kirisaka-senpai’s fan club!? If anything, you should be happy I’m dating someone other than the President!

(W-what is going on…?)

“Next is Japanese history. We should just rebel!”

“Take down the Class Representative!”

“Class Representative must die!”

“We have no choice but to kill him now!”

“Punish him!”

“Divine justice!”

“Cut him down!”

The chaos was getting out of control.

Shouts after shouts. Insults after insults.

Divine justice has nothing to do with Japanese history!

As I was thinking that in my head, Momose-san, right in the middle of all this, quietly raised her hand.

“―Everyone, be quiet.”

Click… the voices stopped.

A-amazing.

All the classmates (mostly boys) who had been yelling froze in place. People can really listen when they want to. Momose-san, maybe she’s cut out to be a commander or something.

“Honamin.”

The person who caused the chaos, and then stopped it. Momose-san was still smiling as she pointed with her finger.

No, she wasn’t pointing at the ceiling. She was pointing at the place where we often talked about Prikle.

“After school… rooftop, okay?”