The Story of Making a Popular Girl Dependent on Me - Chapter 9

Rokka and Katsushika-san returned to the classroom shortly before lunch break ended. I was distracted by thoughts of Rokka, unable to focus on conversations with friends, and kept glancing at the classroom entrance. So when she returned, I noticed right away.

Rokka must have noticed my gaze because she looked at me and smiled. Her face was so beautiful that I found myself enchanted. But then she turned away and quickly returned to her seat.

Following her, Katsushika-san also headed to her seat. Remembering how Rokka and Katsushika-san were arm in arm earlier, I couldn’t help but look at Katsushika-san.

Then, Katsushika-san turned toward Rokka and spoke to her.

(What are they talking about? And aren’t they standing awfully close? Oh, it looks like Katsushika-san is happy.)

Watching Rokka and Katsushika-san chatting happily made me feel uneasy inside. I was really curious about what they were talking about, especially since Rokka had said she was going home with Katsushika-san today.

Normally, this wouldn’t bother me so much, but after seeing them arm in arm before lunch, I couldn’t help but worry about it.

Perhaps because of that, I found myself watching Rokka even more during the afternoon classes, unable to concentrate.

***

Afternoon classes ended, and I listened to the teacher’s announcements, so all that was left was to go home. While getting ready to leave, one of my friends, Shizuku Yakumo, called out to me.

“Asahina, we’re going to karaoke later with everyone. Wanna join?”

Usually, I would decline since I usually go home with Rokka, but today she was going home with friends too, so I decided to accept the invitation.

“Sure, I’ll come.”

“Okay! Let us know when you’re ready!”

“Got it.”

After replying, I checked to see if Rokka was still here, but she was no longer in the classroom.

(I wish she would have said something to me.)

Thinking that to myself, I couldn’t keep my friends waiting, so I quickly finished getting ready to leave.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“No worries at all! Let’s go then!”

When I called out, everyone who had been waiting stood up, and we left the classroom to head to karaoke.

***

About 30 minutes after arriving at karaoke, Shizuku spoke up.

“By the way, it’s rare for Asahina to come, isn’t it? She usually declines saying she’s going home with Yukimura-san.”

“Today, it seemed like Rokka was going home with her friends, so since I was invited, I thought I’d come.”

“I see. But Asahina, you and Yukimura-san are really close, right? You’re in the same middle school, right?”

“Yeah, that’s right. Although we’ve only really talked since our third year.”

“Really? I thought you two had been close for a long time.”

“We were in different classes until the third year, so we didn’t have many chances to talk.”

“I see. Still, that’s nice. Yukimura-san is cool and stylish, so I’d like to get to know her too.”

“Yeah, I hope you get the chance.”

At those words, I felt a momentary pang of unease, but I managed to smile without showing it and replied.

After that, nothing much happened, and when karaoke ended, we left the shop and dispersed as planned.

On the way home, feeling lonely without Rokka next to me, I found myself yearning for her, even though she wasn’t there.

(Sigh. I miss Rokka. Why did she suddenly start keeping her distance? Did I do something wrong? I feel lonely, Rokka.)

Before I knew it, I was thinking about Rokka again. But since she promised to go home together on Friday, I resolved to ask her about everything then and try to fix anything that might be wrong. So I went home alone.

***

That night, when I was about to go to bed, I received a message from Rokka.

“Goodnight, I love you.”

It was a short message, but hearing her say she loved me made me so happy that I immediately replied.

“I love you too! See you tomorrow! Goodnight!”

Tomorrow, I’ll go a bit early to meet Rokka and initiate the conversation myself. Maybe Rokka will also arrive early, and we’ll have more time to talk than usual.

Deciding to go a bit early tomorrow, I prepared for the day ahead and went to sleep.

***

The next morning, there was no morning greeting from Rokka as usual, but having woken up earlier than usual, I finished getting ready early and left home.

Arriving at the classroom, although Rokka wasn’t there yesterday, she was already there today and came over to me a bit flustered.

Rokka looked so cute like that, and I couldn’t help but smile inwardly.

“Good morning, Setsune. You’re early today, huh? What’s up?”

“Good morning, Rokka. I happened to wake up early today, so I came a bit earlier.”

Actually, I had come earlier than Rokka to initiate talking to her at this time, but I couldn’t say that. So, I gave a vague reason that I happened to wake up early.

Then, I casually asked Rokka why she was late yesterday.

“I left home as usual, but I realized I forgot something on the way and had to go back to get it. That’s why I ended up later than usual.”

It seemed she had forgotten something and went back for it, which made her later than usual.

I was worried, but everything seemed fine, and I felt relieved.

After that, we talked a bit longer than usual, and gradually more people started coming into the classroom. It seemed Shizuku and the others had also arrived, so Rokka returned to her seat.

Until the start bell rang, I spent time chatting with friends.

Sometimes, I glanced at Rokka, but she was just playing with her phone without doing anything in particular.

***

When classes started, it wasn’t like usual… because I had talked with Rokka in the morning, I found myself wanting to talk with her more. Before I knew it, just like yesterday, I found myself looking at Rokka again.

But during class, of course, there was no way Rokka would look at me.

In such a state, I couldn’t concentrate on class, and in the end, just like yesterday, I hardly remembered what was taught.

However, during break times, when our eyes met, Rokka would smile at me. It made me inexplicably happy, and I kept looking at her, hoping our eyes would meet again.

And when I got home, wanting to talk with Rokka even a little, I sent her a message. However, I didn’t get a reply until hours later, and she declined a phone call in the evening, saying she was busy.

Feeling frustrated that I couldn’t talk when I wanted to, I continued to struggle to concentrate in class, thinking even more about Rokka than usual. Days like that continued frustratingly until I realized it was Friday, the day we promised to go home together.