Change the wordings and this series can easily be in the thriller genre…

Festive greetings and Merry Christmas everyone!

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

"Should I go to the convenience store?"

　Just as I leave the cla.s.sroom for home, my stomach growls softly.

　Due to the m.u.f.fins I ate during cooking practice, I was unable to eat much during lunch. I had an rice ball but I see it wasn't enough.

　Let's get home quick and eat something.

　The distance towards the shoe shelves is far.

　Were corridors this long?

　I feel like the gentle breeze entering from the windows is going to send me flying; I'm about to collapse from exhaustion.

　Tottering with my head down… I was negligent.

　Just as I suddenly sense a presence nearby, my path ahead is blocked.

　His hand on the wall, the guy not letting me pa.s.s is my nemesis, who has an annoyingly good figure.

　Please don't appear out of the blue, sc.u.m. Give an advance notice.

　His body is close and what's up with this kabedon, huh?

"…I really wanted to eat Kii's sweets."

　I was wondering what he's going to say about the sweets.

　Hm?

　His atmosphere is slightly different.

　Rather than just being unusual, it feels like he's in a bad mood.

　There's a sharpness in his emerald eyes.

　… What on earth?

　Being subjected to this right now, I'm becoming moody.

　There's also the issue of my hunger originally but I'm getting irritated.

"Did you not receive a lot? You will get the metabolic syndrome if you eat beyond that, you know."

　He might as well get the metabolic syndrome, destroy his figure and get abandoned by everyone around him.

"I want to eat Kii's."

"Feel free to head to the convenience store if you want sweets."

"I want to eat Kii's handmade ones."

"Do give up then."

　Even though I thought I managed to escape for good today, this is the worst.

　I've an inkling that the frequency he clings to me is gradually increasing.

　It seems like he'll eventually link a desk with mine and join my cla.s.ses too.

　　Perhaps, the favourability rating of the other capturable characters are MAXed, and there's only me left for his harem to be completed?

　Is that why he's so tenacious about me?

"Please let me pa.s.s."

　Who cares about the circ.u.mstances of a sc.u.m.

　I'm hungry.

　I don't want to touch him but in order to return home, I try to remove the arm that's like a blockade but…

"Wha—!"

"… Why did you give it to a guy like that? And even to those insignificant people."

　The arm I stretched out is caught in his hand.

　His slim and large hand is gripping my wrist.

　It hurts a little.

　His sharp eyes get even more sharp-edged… it's scary.

"Kii, look at me…"

　The gaze that has been directed at me suddenly changes to a sad one.

　This time, an unpleasant p.r.i.c.king pain runs through my chest.

　I hate this pain.

　Even though I wanted to escape from him because I wanted to escape from this pain… that's right, I must escape.

"Let go."

　When I shake him off with all my strength, perhaps because he was unprepared, I quickly regain my freedom.

　『Here's my chance!』I slip through his side and sprint.

　One will get reprimanded for running in the corridors but do forgive me because this is an emergency.

"Kii!"

"Don't come!"

　He's chasing after me.

　His legs are naturally faster than mine… ah, no, I'm about to get caught…!"

　Just as I descend the stairs in a panic, right then――.

"WAIT, AOI!"

　A loud voice comes hurling towards us from the top of the stairs.

　Someone is asking another to stop.

　The target isn't me, but the sc.u.m following me around. However, I unconsciously reacted and my feet ended up stopping too.

　The owner of the voice appears when I turn around.

　A second-year like him, she's his tsundere cla.s.smate with outstanding athleticism, Nekoyas.h.i.+ki Midori.

　Green, straight and long hair with yellow-green eyes.

　She's the capturable character whose favourability rating increases easily on Wednesdays.

　I've not pa.s.sed her the 'Letter of Awakening' yet.

　I wanted to pa.s.s it to her yesterday, but there wasn't any time to because I was desperately escaping from him.

　Her eyebrows are raised, her expression full of anger.

"Why didn't you come to me yesterday!"

"That's…"

　Yesterday, I escaped and returned home.

　There was still time after that but… it seems he didn't go meet Midori-san.

　After awkwardly averting his gaze from Midori, he looked over in my direction in a dispirited manner.

　… Oi, why the heck are you looking here!?

　Isn't that like saying I'm the cause!

"… So you were the one leading Aoi around, huh!"

　See, it really turned out like this!

"That's not it!"

"I'm sorry, Midori. Kii didn't do anything wrong. It's my fault!"

　That's right, it's all your fault!

　Actually, insinuating it's me and then protecting me… are you doing it on purpose?

　Nah, you're probably not thinking at all!

"I don't need this so please go on ahead!"

　I'll even hand him over in a gift wrap.

　I push the sc.u.m's back and present him.

　Alright, go over there, shoo shoo.

　The expression on Midori's face changes.

　… Ah, this is bad.

　The solemn face staring intently at me is honestly scary.

　It's scarier than when she was angry.

　I understand that I stepped on some landmine.

"Ah."

　I consider Midori's feelings.

　I honestly don't need something like the sc.u.m, so I handed him over with a 'I don't need this' without trying to imply anything. However, now that I think about it clearly… I'm an incredibly 『terrible woman』.

　『I don't need such a man so I'll give him to you』, she might have taken me for a villainess on high horse.

"Seriously, you…!"

　Using her outstanding athleticism, Midori bolts from the stairs and draws closer.

　I'm pressed by that pressure and…

　――Ah.

　I back away, completely forgetting I'm on the stairs.

　I realise it when I lose my footing… it's already too late.

　My body has already stiffened…

　It's no use; I'll fall.

　I make the mental preparation and gather strength in my body, but… huh?

　Impacts that aren't painful exist in the world, but is this how it's like?

　The impact is really too weak, though…

　The floor isn't even hard; in fact, it's soft.

　… Soft?

　When I open the eyes that I reflexively closed, I see…

"Kii. Are you okay?"

　A handsome face, one that used to make my heart throb painfully simply at the sight of it, entered my eyes.

　But now…

"YIKESSS!"

　I feel pained in a different way.

　Too close! Scary!

　Suppressing the rising gooseb.u.mps, I jump back in a panic.

　Kagurazaka Mamoru lays stretched out at the bottom of the stairs.

　It seems that this guy acted as a cus.h.i.+on and s.h.i.+elded me.

　How repulsive, to think that I landed on him… wait, ah!

"I am sorry! Are you hurt…"

　I reflexively distanced myself but… that's no att.i.tude to take towards a person who saved oneself.

　That's no good.

　My full weight landed on him… I wonder if he's okay.

"Aoi! Are you okay!?"

　I attempted to check if he's injured but Midori ran over, pushed me away, and knelt near that guy.

　She supported him as he tried to get up, and fussed over him.

　… So it seems I don't have to make an appearance here.

　Midori appears terribly anxious as she worried over him.

　More than him, Midori's the one who seems much less composed.

"I'm okay so don't worry, Midori."

"B-but… it's because I jumped down and pressured that girl that… I am sorry…"

"I'm really okay. So don't worry."

　Being spoken to gently by that guy, Midori finally started crying.

　Tear glands are more easily stimulated when one is being treated gently, huh.

　Yep yep, I understand but…… Erm, can I leave already?

　A nice ambience rose from the crying bishoujo and the ikemen who's stroking her head and comforting her.

　… Y'all sure are lost in your own world!?

"Sheesh, Midori. It's not like I'm hurt…… ow."

　Huh…?

　He seems to be appealing that he isn't hurt so as to not worry Midori, but his expression stiffened for an instant when he s.h.i.+fted his right foot.

"I'm glad Aoi isn't hurt."

　Looks like Midori didn't realise it, but I think he's sweating abnormally.

　Perhaps his foot hurts?

　Is it sprained?

"Are you okay, Kii?"

"Ah, yes…"

　Rather than me, you're the one who doesn't seem okay.

　But if I say that, Midori will get worried.

　Since the injured person himself is trying to hide it, it isn't something I can voice out.

"S-sorry. Both of you. I need to go to the toilet, so…"

　Saying that, he started walking in the toilet's direction hastily.

　He appears to be enduring it, but if I look carefully, he's favouring his right foot as he walks.

"… I'm going back home with Aoi so I'll go grab my bag."

　Shooting a gaze that says『You better not steal a march, alright』, Midori left.

　Good grief, what should I do?

　For the time being, let's see how that guy is doing.

　I prepared myself for a chase when I headed in the direction of the toilet, but that guy is in the immediate vicinity, standing unmoving with his hand on the wall.

　… It looks painful.

"Is your foot okay?"

"… Kii, you found out?"

"Yes. … You were acting cool."

　Even his face that gave a bitter laugh in reply, showed a lack of composure.

　It must be quite painful.

"You know, even though it was unintentional, Midori had once caused her friend to get injured. Hence, she has this side of her where she tends to blame herself a lot…"

"… Is that so."

　I know about that from my knowledge of the game.

　In Midori's middle school days, a tiny prank that she set up for her childhood friend, a boy, caused a huge incident.

　It was an unfortunate accident, but he became badly injured.

　Although his injury healed, there were still after effects on his foot. It became difficult for him to fulfill his dream as a short distance runner in track-and-field.

　With regards to that, he was working hard to overcome it on his own, but it wasn't so for Midori.

　Midori who was also a track-and-field runner like him… quitted with the intention of atoning.

　That angered him, and created a gap between the two.

　Her memory from that time probably resurfaced.

　Perhaps that was why she was so fl.u.s.tered.

　That guy appears relieved when I tell him Midori isn't here. He crouches down on the spot.

"Let's go to the infirmary."

"It's okay. Midori's coming back, right? She'll be worried if I go to the infirmary."

　While I think that it's wonderful to take such a stance of not worrying girls…

　I would have probably fallen in love all over again if I didn't knew he's sc.u.m.

　… I liked this side of him, huh.

　I really don't want to remember though.

"I'll go get a compress and come back, so please wait here."

　I saw his lips move, saying『I don't need it』, but I'm ignoring that.

　Besides, it's my fault he's injured.

　I obtain a compress and return to that guy in a hurry so that I will have time to put it on him before Midori returns.

　His ankle is sprained; it's slightly swollen.

　It doesn't seem that serious but sprains can't be judged visually.

"Please treat it properly at home, alright."

"Thank you, Kii."

"That should be my line. Thank you very much for saving me."

"I'm glad Kii isn't hurt."

　When he gives me that smile I used to like so much, an indescribable fuzziness spread in my chest.

　… Perhaps I don't hate this smile.

　Even though he's unforgivable… and I must hate it.

"If someone is going to get hurt because of me, it is better if I am the one who is hurt. That is why, please do not do it ever again. It is none of your business."

　… It's kind of unpleasant.

　The me who can only say things like this.

　What an uncute girl I am.

"To prefer being hurt yourself, Kii sure is kind."

"…."

　What is he saying?

　If he speaks like this in addition to saving me…

　He is still smiling gently when I direct my gaze at him.

　… Am I getting poisoned by this smile?

　What an idiot I am.

　It's so ridiculous that I find myself astonis.h.i.+ng.

"You, who paid attention to not make Midori-senpai uneasy… were a little, wonderful."

　I unconsciously voice it out.

　Even though I did not intend to say something like that.

　However, it's true that I formed a slightly better opinion of him.

　『Please let this be his real 'face'』, I hoped.

　He looks surprised.

　What?

"I'm happy. It's been awhile since Kii smiled."

"… Eh?"

　Just now, I… smiled?

　Nah, that's me scorning myself… I wasn't smiling at him at all!

　Definitely!

　Still, it's a bad indication.

　… I have to, build more walls.

"Hey, Kii. As expected, I want to be with Kii more. I want to see more of Kii's smiles. I want to get to know Kii better, and I also want Kii to know me better… will you watch over me?"

"… Such a thing"

　『Of course I'll reject.』

　I intended to say that, but…

　The words won't come out.

　The smile reflecting in my eyes right now is trying to break down something in me.

　… If I had heard these words earlier.

　I would probably have faced you straightforwardly once again and answered『Yes』.

　However… the current me is unable to say that, no matter what.

　Because I'm stubborn.

　Even if that’s something that will worsen as time goes by and constrict my neck.

　That's why, more and more, I want you to get a taste.

　Of exactly how hurt I was.

　How sad I was, how pained I was.

　Work harder, harder, harder to attract my attention――.

　…Eh?

　…Wrong, wrong wrong, just now, I… what was I thinking?

　That's… wrong, I must hate him.

　Even though it's best to not get involved, to be wanting him to attract my attention, that's absurd.

"Please don't bother with me!"

　Midori-senpai's footsteps are drawing near.

　Let's go home first.

　I'll go back and reset.

　So that I can properly hate him tomorrow too.

　I hear his voice saying something but paying it no heed, I escape.

　I turn back when I reach the entrance.

　No one's there.

　It seems like Midori-san didn't see me.

　Thank goodness…

"Torida-san."

　Just as I was feeling relieved, someone abruptly calls out to me.

　The voice was from behind so I turn back. It's Mas.h.i.+ro.

"… Shall we, have a little talk?"

　I can't make out what she's thinking from her expressionless face.

　Whilst having a bad premonition… I nod.