Chapter 2

Makoto Himuro ②

The seating arrangement had begun, with each participant drawing a number from a hat.

When it was Hasumi-san’s turn, the men who had been making a fuss up till now began to watch her closely with bated breath.

She comes to a halt in front of the teaching table and takes a deep breath, walking slowly with a lovely posture.

Her white-fish-like fingers take a sheet of paper from her bag and present it to the homeroom teacher, who showcases the seat locations written on the chalkboard. 

She seemed to have drawn the last row of seats beside the window yet again. It seems like the gods of fate have favored her well.

However, the seat next to her was still empty. While the men following her went to draw the lots in good spirits, she returned back with a face devoid of any emotion and joy.

“I’m glad for you; you got a great location once again.”

I talked to her partly because I couldn’t get the sad look on her face before the seat exchange out of my head.

There will be much fewer opportunities for us to talk to each other now onwards.

“I suppose that’s true.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t hear the last bit; what did you say?”

I could only hear the last part, and when I asked her again, she gave me a vague smile.

“I’m sorry, I said I was fortunate.”

‘Yes, I see. Having the same seat two times in a row is truly a miracle, it’s like you have enough luck to win the lottery..”

To be honest, she had incredible odds; if she bought a lottery ticket, she’d almost be certain to win a fortune.

“Look, Himuro-kun, it’s your turn.”

“Looks like it is. Well, I’m off then.”

It was apparently my turn, so I rose from my seat and proceeded to the front to draw the lots.

I wasn’t a particularly noticeable person, and I noticed that only my friends were staring at me with smiles on their faces.

The only seats available were almost entirely in the first or last row, so I’m guessing they’re hoping I’ll get the front row.

Too bad, though. In the past, I’ve only had good fortune bestowed upon me.

“Too bad.”

Hasumi-san calls out to me as I slump my shoulders and return back to my seat.

“Oh, I’m praying to God to destroy the world right now.”

My seat was in the front center row, a location in the classroom that I would have paid money to NOT move to. 

“I see. Well, I’ll help pray for you.”

“You know what? It’s a shame that the blessed sparks a fire, you know? “

To mock her, I point a rubber band at her desk and fire at it like a pistol.

What kind of insane thing was she saying when the difference between the top and bottom of the seating hierarchy is just about the same?

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, but I thought it would be a little sad if I couldn’t talk to you anymore, Himuro-kun.”

“Well, I enjoyed talking with Hasumi-san, too, I think. But it’s not like we’re going to be in different classes, so it’s not as if we won’t be talking at all.”

“I’m not sure. Because, Himuro-kun, you don’t talk to me on your own, do you?”

“That’s true. It’s so hard for me to get up from my seat during break time, except for when I go to the restroom.”

“Right? So we don’t get much time to talk at all otherwise.”

To be honest, I think she’s probably right. We don’t have any mutual friends, and while we both know we like books, simply lending or borrowing them isn’t enough.

She doesn’t seem to be the type to recommend books simply because she enjoys them either.

“I suppose that’s right; however, if we have the opportunity, I’d appreciate it if we do continue to talk to each other.”

While we were discussing this among ourselves, it appeared that all of the lots had been drawn. All our classmates began to move around and shuffle their seats.

“…Yeah, I’ll see you around.”

I began to move as well, leaving my previous seat, which I had grown quite accustomed to over the previous month.

As a result, the noise behind me became increasingly louder.

It seemed that the people who had drawn the lots near her seat began talking to her. 

◆◆◆◆◆

The test week has begun, and my days have become even more sluggish-like than usual.

However, since I’m seated in front of the teacher, I’m unable to skip class, so I must continue to attend classes with a solemn expression.

I go to class, then have lunch with my friends before returning to class with a very sleepy head.

After that, I go to the car school to finish my motorcycle training.

When I return back home, I listen to my father’s discussions about his motorcycles, and my mother’s complaints pour down on me and my younger sister, who is particularly sloppy.

As a new day begins, my old habits start to fade away.

I thought about going to talk to Hasumi-san at first, but I usually went to talk to the bright girl sitting next to me, Chika Kiritani, was it? I abandoned the idea because I was conversing with the other members of the group from time to time.

They are, after all, two people who began in opposing positions. This would have happened regardless if we hadn’t been sitting next to each other.

I was feeling unusually lonely because I had enjoyed talking with her so much, but I couldn’t help myself.

When I look at her, it’s probably the only time our eyes meet with one another.

With this in mind, I gradually let my attention drift away from her.

TL: “”

ED: Spynine01