Kōryaku Taishō-sha na Watas.h.i.+ wa Gyarugē Shujinkō kara Nigetai wake de!

"Nn! I've slept well!"

　As I retired to bed early so that my skin won't get harmed from the stress, I'm able to wake up in a good mood.

　Eating fruits in the morning, my vitamin supply is also perfect.

　I even drank milk, so I've secured calcium too.

　Anger is bad for the mien after all.

　Looking out the window, I see that the weather is good; the sunlight may get strong later.

　Let's put some sunblock.

　Being able to take my time preparing, I open the door of the entranceway while feeling refreshed.

　May something good happen today!

"Kii, good morning."

　Why.

　The muscles on my face cease functioning.

　This act of G.o.d betrayed my expectations in less than a second.

　Isn't this too much?

　Today, too, with his cream-coloured silky hair swaying in the wind and an overflowing smile that is uselessly sparkly, it's the sc.u.m.

　It'll be best if only the insides can be changed.

　It's scary that nothing seems to get to him even though I rejected him that strongly. Gross.

　Are the synapses in his brain connected?

"This, I bought it yesterday. I thought it'd suit you. This gem has the same colour as your eyes. Will you accept it?"

　Perhaps he's confident; what he holds out with a happy-looking smile is a necklace.

　A key-shaped charm with a blue gem inserted in it is attached to a silver chain. It's cute.

　Certainly, it's to my liking. And that's scary.

"No, thank you."

"Kii!?"

　『To think I can receive such a wonderful thing from senpai, it feels like a dream』I reflexively jumped at it, but then I came to my senses and let go, apologising with a reddened face. Was he expecting such a development? What an idiot.

　He's paying attention to his smartphone, so is he trying to check the favourability rating?

　Even though I put on my shoes in a good mood, to think that my mood will take such a dive just by opening the door.

　Ignore. Ignore!

"Ah, Kii! Wait, this."

"I don't need it! &h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip; ah."

　The necklace drops on the floor from the impact when I shook off his hand that was persistently trying to pa.s.s it to me.

　The silver chain tangles up, and the key-shaped charm lands in a mess.

　Silently picking up the necklace, he looks towards me with an extremely lonely appearance, like an abandoned puppy.

　I'd never been looked at with such eyes before.

　What I'd seen had been nothing but serene smiles.

　&h.e.l.lip; What should I do?

　p.r.i.c.k, pain ran through my heart.

　Is it simply guilt, or&h.e.l.lip;

　No good, these eyes are no good.

　I can't look at them.

"&h.e.l.lip; I see you won't accept it."

"I will not. However&h.e.l.lip; I am sorry."

　&h.e.l.lip; I must escape.

　Although I don't know why I must do so, I've an inkling it’ll be bad if I remain here like this. As for what will be bad, I can't express it well though.

　I break off into a run to shake him off.

Even though I know that he's the most despicable sc.u.m.

　That there's no meaning in the things he do.

　That the likes of『a gift for a girl』is nothing special.

　That there's nothing to be concerned about.

　Things more horrible were done to me, so the likes of that extent!

　&h.e.l.lip; Even though I think so.

　I turn back, but he isn't there.

　Even though it's something to cheer over&h.e.l.lip; for some reason I'm not happy.

　My heart still hurts.

　The pain will not fade.

　On the contrary, the thing stabbing into my heart sinks deeper whenever I recall his sad-looking face.

"Why do I have to feel this way&h.e.l.lip;"

　I give a small sigh to the asphalt at the end of my gaze as I hang my head down.

xx

xx

　Breaktime in the interval between lessons.

　As foreseen, the sunlight is strong.

　The chances of b.u.mping into that guy at this time is comparatively lower.

　It's terrifying how I used to think『It's lonely when we can't meet』around this timing.

　I'm really glad that my eyes are opened now.

I haven't recovered from the damage this morning, but I decide to pay it no mind.

　It's my loss if I do.

　I warn myself that it was『that type of tactics』and I can't be moved by them.

　Being on cla.s.s duty that day, I was requested by the homeroom teacher to move the notes and print-outs from the staff room to the cla.s.sroom.

　There's no problem weight-wise, but the piled-up print-outs seem like they may slip off anytime, making walking difficult.

　There’s still a ways to go on the long corridor.

　I regret not having called out to someone, asking them for their help.

"Kii!"

"Yikes."

　This feeling where my hair stand on end&h.e.l.lip; it's him!

　I’d let down my guard thinking he wouldn't appear. And because of that, I gave a response of rejection as though a certain scurrying black pest[1] had appeared.

　Though, in terms of being gross, they’re certainly of the same level.

　Ah, shucks&h.e.l.lip; As I had recoiled from the surprise, the piled-up print-outs start collapsing.

　Hastily adjusting my posture, they didn't end up falling. However, it seems like they may start collapsing again if I ease up.

"I'll lend a hand."

"No, thank you!"

　Mayhaps he sees that I'm having a hard time keeping the pile in order. He stretches out a hand, which I dodge.

　I refuse to beest indebted to thee!

The heck?

　He doesn't appear concerned about what happened in the morning.

　That lonely expression has been remaining in my heart, and whenever it surfaces, I erase it&h.e.l.lip; an endless cycle.

　I see, I'm an idiot, aren't I? I can only let out dry laughter, haha.

"I'll hold them, so let's go to the cla.s.sroom together."

"No, thank you!"

"I can't leave you be when you're carrying heavy things, Kii."

　I'll be more grateful if you leave me be!

　Ah sheesh, I want to punch him!

　What should I do? I don't want to walk with him.

　But as long as I've this baggage, I can't run and escape.

　Any ideas? I look around while thinking so, and findd a boy who's from my cla.s.s nearby.

　His name&h.e.l.lip; what is it again?

　He's terribly 'average Joe', and is much like the exemplar of background characters.

　Short black hair, neither ikemen nor unsightly, not too flashy, not too plain&h.e.l.lip;

　A true『Cla.s.smate A』.

"The A-kun there!"

"Ei-kun!?"

　When I call out to him, Cla.s.smate A-kun is so surprised that he seems like he'll spring up.

　He's looking at me with widened eyes.

　Come to think of it, this may be the first time we converse?

　I feel sorry to suddenly call out but please save me!

"Sorry. Hold half of this, and come with me to the cla.s.sroom!"

　For me to suddenly hand him what I'm holding, he appears bewildered.

　He has an expression that says『What's this?』but if we dally here, I'll be caught by gross-man!

"Follow me!"

　Calling out to A-kun, I advance through the corridor in a quick pace.

　Confirming that he's following me in a hurry, I raise my speed.

"Kii, wait!" [2]

　I hear his voice but I'm not looking back.

　Continuing to ignore him, I push on through the long corridor.

　Turning at the corner, when I'm just a short distance away from the cla.s.sroom, I look back.

"Great, he's not there."

　Just as I pat my chest, the cla.s.smate who's walking beside me while holding the papers, speaks up.

　Ah, sorry.

　I forgot about your existence for a moment.

"I'm sorry for the abruptness. Thank you for your help!"

"Yeah. More importantly&h.e.l.lip; I was surprised that Torida-san called me『Ei-kun』."

　I felt apologetic that his name doesn't come to mind even though he's my cla.s.smate.

　A little more and I think I can recall&h.e.l.lip;!

"Um, sorry&h.e.l.lip;"

"It-it's fine. Really! Rather, I'm happy, actually&h.e.l.lip; Can I also call you『Kii-chan』?"

"Eh?"

The moment I wonder how it came to this, I remember.

　That's right, his name is Itou Eita.

　I said『A-kun』, but he heard it as『Ei-kun』.

　What a miracle&h.e.l.lip; is this coincidence a good or bad thing?

"C-can't I?"

"Sure thing. Ei-kun."

　When I smile at him in reply, Ei-kun's face also went bam!, brightening as though flowers are in bloom.

"Thank you! Ki-kii-chan!"

Maybe he's shy. His bashful look is cute.

　Besides, I'm happy to be getting along well with a cla.s.smate.

　It may have started with my discourtesy, but I'm glad it sorted out well.

"Is that okay?"

"Is what?"

"Um&h.e.l.lip; Kagurazaka-senpai, he seemed like he had business with you."

"It's okay. Because I don't."

"I-is that so."

　Perhaps the curt way I spoke stunned him; he's giving a slightly-strained courtesy smile.

　Shucks. I couldn't stop that from coming out of my mouth, but he's probably being strangely considerate because he knows that we[3] were on good terms until recently.

"Did you guys have a fight? You weren't getting along well recently, right?"

　My heart skips a beat at the question that was asked meekly.

　Has the people around us noticed the change between us?

　&h.e.l.lip; I don't want to attract too much attention.

　Looking at me whose face scrunched up, Ei-kun starts panicking.

"S-sorry! Sounding like I'm prying. It's just that, it's becoming a rumour."

"Rumour?"

Rumours and the like, please give me a break.

　Rumours don't circulate with accurate details, and it's perturbing that they say whatever they want for the fun of it.

　The furrows between my brows only continue to deepen.

"That Kii-chan wasn't on good terms with Kagurazaka-senpai anymore. To tell the truth, the guys were rejoicing."

"?"

"Ah, because Kii-chan is popular! For some reason, all the popular girls in this school likes Kagurazaka-senpai. It's dull for the other guys, or so to speak&h.e.l.lip;"

　It's my first time hearing I'm popular.

　Ohh&h.e.l.lip; I'm a little&h.e.l.lip; Nah, I'm quite happy.

　I feel like I'm about to grin while laughing『Dehehe』.

　I'm also technically a capturable target with a storyline, so it might not be strange to be more or less popular?

　It doesn't ring a bell because it's about myself though&h.e.l.lip;

　At any rate&h.e.l.lip; it's also the first time I find out that the male students are envious of that guy.

　Come to think of it, I don't have a close male friend other than that guy.

　Perhaps that's why it's news to me.

　I do chat with some, but it's only that guy whose relations.h.i.+p I had was one whereby we would meet up during holidays.

　&h.e.l.lip; It's upsetting somehow.

　I feel like I'm finished in some way.

　I don't need a『boyfriend』, but I do want male friends I can chat with.

"Also, there's compliments on how your atmosphere changed and how you became prettier, Kii-chan."

"R-really!?"

That's delightful, really delightful.

　This means that I'm starting to rid myself of the cunning imouto label right!?!

　I wonder if I can take it that they do acknowledge things outside of twin tails!

"Un! I-I&h.e.l.lip; think so too."

"Really? &h.e.l.lip; I'm happy to hear that."

"Gasp!"

I can't repress my happiness, nor the grin that creeps up my face.

　Ehehe, how embarra.s.sing.

　I'm getting all shy.

　It'd be perfect if only the memory of『that guy and I being on good terms』disappears too though.

"What's wrong?"

"N-nothing!"

For some reason, Ei-kun's face is completely red.

　Can it be, he has never spoken much to girls?

　Not having many friends of the opposite gender, I'm the same.

Of course, I'm not considering that guy as someone of『the opposite gender』; he's a creature known as sc.u.m.

　The number of boys I'm on good terms with is zero.

　I'll absolutely love to be good friends with Ei-kun.

"Nn?"

　The corridor of another building that can be seen from the window.

　I catch sight of a person with cream-colored hair who halted his movements.

"I-Isn't that Kagurazaka-senpai?"

　He has a crease between his brows, and is glaring in this direction.

　What's up with him&h.e.l.lip;

　Ei-kun winces and seems to be backing away.

"Let's go."

　Calling out to Ei-kun who's standing stock-still, I move on.

　What's he looking at, this person[4].

　Gross as expected.

x

x

[1] Pretty sure she's referring to a c.o.c.kroach.

[2] The 'he' in the previous sentence is Ei-kun while the one asking Kii to wait is Aoi.

[3] Aoi and herself.

[4] Aoi.