Chapter 80: Kagamin

“Girls, sure are amazing…”

 

As they finished their sightseeing and headed for Yokohama Chinatown, a boy in Asahi’s group suddenly muttered to himself. He quickly adjusted his black-rimmed glasses with a dumbfounded look on his face. On the other side of his gaze was three girls walking in a horizontal line.

In the middle was Asuka, leading the conversation while turning her head left and right. The girls on either side of her smiled and responded to her, talking happily.

“Yeah, I think so too.”

Asahi agreed, remembering what happened a few hours ago.

 

The three girls were not exactly on good terms with each from the stage when the group was decided by lottery. Specifically, Asuka and the other two girls were at odds with each other. This hadn’t changed even on the day of the field trip, and until just a few minutes ago, they had been on edge.

In fact, the fact that the group split up at the museum where they could make their own original cup noodles was also an indication of such a conflict.

But now, they were all together and talking.

“It starts out bad and ends up being yuri. This is the so-called royal road…precious.”

 

Muttering something incomprehensible, Mr. Glasses accelerated his walking speed and stepped out a little ahead of Asahi.

And in his place arrived a girl with prominent blond hair.

“Hey, hey, Kagamin. What do you want to eat in Chinatown?”

“I’d like some meatbun and shumai…wait, what did you just call me?”

When Asahi asked her with an unexplainable face, Asuka opened her mouth happily.

“I try to call the people I like by nicknames.”

“People you like…? Huh?”

“Ah, don’t get it wrong? It’s LIKE, not LOVE.”

Asahi gestured with an understanding.

Asahi heard “Tsundere” being thrown around nearby, but he ignored it and carried on with his story.

“But, don’t you call Yamada by his name?”

“Yep, yep. Ryoma is special. They say that simple is best, right?”

Speaking proudly, Asuka called Ryoma’s name happily.

Ryoma must be a very special person to her. The feelings she usually conveyed in her words and actions were even more apparent today.

“If you could, I’d like you to call me something normal, too.”

“Eh? C’mon. Isn’t Kagamin cute?”

“Why are you saying the same thing as Hinami?”

“As expected, she’s got great taste.”

Asahi sighed at the thought that the nickname that Hinami almost gave her before, was coming back here.

Even after seeing this, Asuka still called out “Kagamin, Kagamin” as if to tease him. Apparently, she had no intention to stop calling him by nickname.

“Sigh, what did I just get myself into?”

“Let’s see. The part where you’re swept up in love?”

“I don’t know why, but for some reason that felt like a bullseye.”

Asuka smiled happily again as Asahi held his chest as if he was hurt.

“Ah, it’s Ryoma and the others!”

It seemed that as they walked while talking, they had arrived at the meeting place.

“Hey!” Asuka waved her hands in the air.

A little further ahead, Ryoma, Hinami, and Fuyuka were also waving back.

“Is it fine waving like that? You said, ‘If you can’t push it, pull it’, right?”

“I totally forgot about it…”

 

“Oh no!” Asuka’s eyes widened. She froze a little and then gave a small laugh as if she was letting something out.

 

“As I thought, if I can’t push, I have to push harder.”

“Yeah, definitely.”

 

When Asahi affirmed, Asuka nodded her head in satisfaction.

“So, from here on out, I’m going to enjoy being around Ryoma for as long as I can!”

Asuka stretched her hands to the sky and declared, then turned her attention towards Asahi.

“I’ll do my best, so please do your best too, Kagamin. I’ll be rooting for you.”

“What are you talking about?”

 

“I’m talking about Himuro-san.”

 

“…You knew?”

“I’ve noticed. That’s why I wanted to talk to you, Kagamin.”

Laughing, Asuka stepped forward and walked over to Ryoma.

“Come on, Kagamin, hurry up!”

The loud voice seemed to be heard by all.

Hinami was the first to react, Chiaki smirked, and Ryoma gave a gentle smile.

In the midst of all this, a small voice muttered words of confirmation.

“…Kagamin?”

 

Fuyuka, who had been smiling calmly just now, froze as if possessed by something.

“Oh god, I might have messed up.”

 

Asuka made a cute “TEHE” gesture. Meanwhile, Asahi joined Fuyuka’s group, unable to comprehend the situation.