Vol 2- Chap 1- “Do you have any plans for after school?”

 

　My lonely lunch break is peaceful.

 

I enjoyed the sandwich I got from the convenience store on impulse.

 

The bickering of the class as well as the lively voice of the club broadcasting pass through my ears.

 

My only friend, Kyoya Natsume, has also disappeared with his clubmates.

 

Then there is my lover…yes, my lover.

 

Rika Tachibana, who is my lover, is in the courtyard with her 2 friends.

 

I received a message from her a little while back.

 

That’s why there is no one left for me to be with.

 

It’s only natural for me to be by myself.

 

But of course, that’s fine.

 

Certainly, it is true that due to an incident a while back, I don’t refuse to interact with people as much as I used to anymore.

 

But that doesn’t imply that I Immediately start gathering friends and expanding my relationships.

 

I don’t reject those who approach me but don’t chase who leave either. I don’t do what I don’t want to.

 

That’s what I have decided.

 

Even though my way of thinking has changed, I still prefer solitude. 

 

I just get tired of company.

 

In that regard, I haven’t been able to by myself these days.

 

I think I need a small break now.

 

Yes, that’s it.

 

“…Fuu”

 

After finishing my sandwich, I quenched my throat with strawberry milk.

 

The feeling of being stuffed and the mild sweetness started to make me pleasantly sleepy.

 

It was peaceful.

 

Should I just sleep until the 5th period?

 

As I was pondering about that, I saw my phone’s screen light up on the desk to a message.

 

The sender was “Tachibana Rika”.

 

“…”

 

The corners of my mouth almost raised up, so I quickly covered them with my hand.

It seems I’m way too happy to receive a message from someone.

 

No no, that depends on who sent the message.

 

It’s not just anyone.

 

…Well, it’s a bit embarrassing, but it’s not like I don’t want it.

 

I took some deep breaths and stopped that stupid monologue.

 

Then I looked around and opened the message.

 

“I have something to do today after school,  so please return home by yourself.”

 

It does seem so.

 

That it’s a day of complete solitude.

 

Even though we hadn’t promised to go together, she was still polite enough to send that.

 

“Understood”

  

 

I put the phone back down as I said that.

 

That is how we communicate with each other.

 

Neither of us is the type to chat using messages frequently. 

 

So she probably won’t send another reply.

 

Or so I thought before my phone’s screen flashed again.

 

Is there still something else?

 

“Don’t you miss me?”

 

…

 

“…”

 

I picture Tachibana’s face in my mind naturally, her mouth pouting as if she were sulking.

 

What kind of messages is this girl sending me?

 

This is like…

 

…

 

“Well, I miss you”

 

“Fufu. I see. Let’s have dinner together.”

 

“Oh”

 

In the end, only an orange stamp was sent, and our conversation was over.

 

Looking back at my phone’s screen of the conversation, I couldn’t help but grin.

 

This is just like a normal couple.

 

What did I just do…?

 

Maybe I’m more excited about the current situation than I thought.

I need to be more firm…

 

I placed my head back down on my desk to bring back the drowsiness that almost disappeared before I noticed.

 

“Kusuba-kun!”

 

“Hm…?”

 

Suddenly, I heard an unfamiliar voice call me in front of me.

 

I looked up, feeling confused and scared, and there it was.

 

“Yaahoo”

 

“…”

 

…who?

 

In front of me was a face of a girl I didn’t know at all.

 

It’s a mystery what’s so interesting to have such a big smile on her face.

 

If she knows my name, does that mean we’ve met somewhere before?

 

In any case, I can’t seem to find any reason to be called.

 

“Hey! Why are you not responding?!”

 

“What do you need?”

 

“Honorific!”

 

The girl then put her arms and face on the desk and chuckled to herself.

 

She looked at me and I reflexively turned my head away.

 

It’s a sad side-effect of being a loner.

 

“We are in the same class, so why don’t you just be casual.”

 

“…same class?”

 

“Waahh! Terrible”

 

“That’s not fair” Contrary to her words, she seemed to be having fun.

 

However, we’re in the same class?

 

If you ask me, I really don’t think so.

 

I’m not proud of it but I’m really bad at remembering people’s faces.

 

“Sayano Mio! We were in the same class last year, right?”

 

Apparently.

 

Maybe, maybe not.

 

Were we?

 

Sayano had shiny partially long brown hair that was tied up in a so-called pony.

 

She had big and round cat-like eyes with her teeth flashing.

 

Regardless of my sexual preferences, she was a beautiful girl.

 

I think charm was something that fit the word “modern”, but also had a tinge of gentleness that wasn’t overwhelming.

 

According to my high-performance sensor, she’s a normie.

 

As evidence, I get a feeling similar to Hinata from her.

 

She is not as scary though.

 

“So, what do you need, suddenly?”

 

If you don’t have anything to say, then I’d like to take a quick nap.

 

I won’t say that out loud though.

 

“Do you have any plans after school?”

 

“After school?”

 

“That’s right. After school.”

 

Sayano stared at me again, repeating herself.

 

What is going on?

 

Is this really all there is?

 

If I answer “no”, I’ll be forced to do some troublesome work or get involved in something unnecessary or something similar.

 

“That…”

 

Not all lies are bad as a wise man once said.

 

No, it’s not really a lie.

 

After school, I have important things to do such as read the books I bought.

 

I just thought of It that way.

 

“So, Is that so!”

 

“A-ah, well”

 

That innocent reaction was really hurtful.

 

The fact that I am feeling guilty meant that what I said was a lie.

 

But that’s just how I am.

 

Forgive me, normie.

 

“Hmm…so it’ll be just me at the meeting today.”

 

“Meeting?”

 

“Muu. The teacher said that earlier. The school trip committee has a meeting in the visual room after school.”

 

“A-ahh.”

 

Certainly, it did sound a bit familiar.

 

But what’s the relation with her?

 

“Therefore, the school trip committee members are Kusuba-kun and I!”

 

“…is that so?

 

“Hey!”

 

Sayano laughed as if she were angry, but was rather cheerful instead.

 

And at the same time, I suddenly remembered.

 

Everyone in the class is supposed to be on some kind of committee in our school.

 

Even if you’re a loner, you’re not an exception, unfortunately. 

 

What an unfair world.

 

The health committee, the bulletin board, the discipline committee, etc were sent to work here and there throughout the year.

 

I only became a member of the school trip committee because I thought I would only need to work for a certain period of time and be free the rest of the year.

 

And of course, I usually have no work, so I forgot about that.

And the time has finally come.

 

“It seems that a minimum of only 1 person is required. So if you’re busy, I’ll go instead. I can just take a day off from my club.”

 

“Ah, well, that…”

 

As expected, the situation will change if this is the case.

 

I obviously don’t want to go to the meeting because it’s a hassle, but it’s work.

 

Besides, it doesn’t feel good to skip out and give my work to the rest of the people.

 

It’s awkward now that I’ve said that I’m busy, but I still should go.

 

“Eh? What’s wrong?”

 

“…No, it’s nothing. It’s not a big deal so I’ll go. You can go to your club, don’t worry about it.”

 

“E-eh. Are you sure?”

 

“Yeah”

 

“…hmm, is that so.”

 

I nodded and Sayano tilted her head as if she were pondering something.

 

Anyway, how long are you planning on hanging by my desk?

 

It’s a bit awkward because your face is too close…

 

“…Ok. I suppose I’ll go with you.”

 

“Eh?”

No, why?

 

“Because it’s not good. It’s better for both of us to go. No?”

 

“W-well, I suppose so.”

 

Sayano said, “Well, that’s decided” and stood up.

 

I could see everything else except her face and arms on the desk for the first time.

 

The shirt and short skirt she was wearing really made her look like a normie.

 

“I’ll come again after class. Let’s go together.”

 

“No, we can meet there.”

 

“Nope. I’m afraid you might skip it.”

 

“I won’t skip the meeting…”

 

“Good! I’ll pick you up later, so wait!”

 

“Understood…”

 

As I said that in submission, Sayano huffed in satisfaction.

 

She then turned around and walked back to her seat.

 

As she left, her pony swayed around as if it was dancing in time with her hand.

 

As usual, normies really have a lot of energy.

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Yh, it’s been long, ik

Gonna have 6 months straight of exams (I HAVE NO CLUEEEE. WHYY GODDD WHYY)

Ah well, hope u enjoy