Chapter 61 – Hiragi Shirona Took a Step Forward

 

Shirona decided that we would be meeting in the old staff room, the Rose Garden.

 

I walked toward the Rose Garden with heavy steps. I even made several U-turns along the way, if this was the road and I was driving a car, the policemen woulda arrested me already for being a public nuisance.

 

Why the Rose Garden?…

 

I mean, there were plenty of places in this school where we could be alone together. If I were to take a wild guess, she probably chose Rose Garden because it was related to Arina. No, I didn’t imply that Arina influenced her decision directly, she wasn’t that kind of person.

 

I think the reason why she chose Rose Garden was as a challenge to Arina. After all, it was the place where I hung out the most with her. Well, I could also be wrong about this, maybe she only did this because she felt like it, who knows.

 

Before going there, I stopped by the cafeteria for the first time in a while.

Today, too, the girl members of the athletic club were fighting their battles in the bread section. The treasure (bread) I was looking for was currently on the other side of the crowd. Back when I decided to break through that crowd, Tsuru called me a pervert… Ah, right, that was the first time I ever talked with her…

 

As I was reminiscing about the past, the number of the bread dwindled. The girls acted like lioness devouring their prey, only the carcasses (bread crumbs) remained in that place now.

 

If only Uncle Jam could open his bakery here, how good would it be? (T/N: Anpanman reference)

 

“You… I’ve seen you around a lot… Do you want some?”

 

Someone offered a loaf of bread to me. I traced my gaze from the arm holding the bread to the face of the person. It was a girl that I didn’t know, her height was average and from the thickness of her wrists, I could judge that she was a slender girl. She had chestnut-colored bobbed hair, which made me think that she would be a lively girl but her sleepy face disproved that. If she were to smile, she would probably look cute but currently she seems listless.

 

“Thank you very much for your kindness! How much should I pay you?”

“Seventy thousand.”
“Ah! That’s a lot!”

 

She reacted by tilting her head, but the corners of her mouth didn’t even move. Well, that joke was a bust. She was the kind of person I won’t be compatible with, it seems.

 

“Um, so, why are you giving me this? Sorry, but I don’t know who you are… Have we ever met somewhere before?”

“No. I saw you around a lot though, maybe…”

“Are you one of the warriors fighting for the bread?”

“No, I’m a thief.”

“Sorry?”
“When the winner of the battle heads to the cash register, I would snatch the bread away from them.”

“…”

 

I politely declined her offer. She made it clear that she paid for the bread, but as a man with a pure heart I couldn’t just take a bread that had been tainted with evil.

 

Then she approached me quickly like a slithering snake. There was only a dozen centimeters between us, she was kinda invading my personal space.

 

“Ah, you’re the infamous Sui-kun.”

“Yes, I am Sakaki Sui. Is there something wrong with me?”

“What a nice coincidence.”

“Huh?”

“Coincidentally meeting the precious love of my cute kouhai… It’s nice…”

“???”

 

Cute kouhai? Who is she referring to? Ah, I got no time for this, Shirona should be in the Rose Garden already, I shouldn’t keep her waiting any longer.

 

“I’m talking about Shirona-chan. Namiki Shirona-chan. Isn’t she in the same grade as you?”

“Shi–?!”

“By the way, I’m a third-year.”

“…I didn’t know you were a senior, sorry…”

“Don’t mind it much. Well, now that you know I’m a senior, what do you think is going to happen?”

“Since an asteroid 500 meters in diameter will fall in a few hours, we’re obviously going to save the world from it.”

“I see, Shirona-chan is right, you’re a weirdo. So this is the guy that she likes, huh?”

“Wait, wait! I don’t understand what you are trying to say, senpai! …Also, may I know what your exalted name is?”

 

The mysterious senpai yawned. She looked really sleepy.

 

“Sorry, sorry, I feel so sleepy. Oh well, whatever. I am Kozue. Kazawaguchi Kozue.”

“Nice to meet you, Kazawaguchi-senpai.”

“Unusual name, isn’t it? Try to google the kanji later.”

“Got it. Then, I’ll–”

 

I took a step back and tried to leave the place, but she continued the conversation. It seemed like she didn’t want me to leave yet.

 

“What do you think of Shirona-chan?”

“…I think she’s a cute girl.”

“That’s it?”

“Yeah. She’s cute.”

“I see. So, do you have a girl you like currently?”

“W-What’s with that out of left field question?!”
“Do you?”

“…Nope…”

“Ah, so you’re into that, sorry, I was insensitive–”

“No. I. Am. Not. Into. BL. I. Love. Girls.”

“Sorry about that. I think it would be perfect though”

“I’m not gay.”

“I’m talking about the Shirona-chan x Sui-kun pairing.”

 

Was she trying to pair me up with Shirona? I guess beneath that sleepy expression of her, lies a fierce soul of a shipper.

 

“Hahaha. Maybe it would be perfect, yes. Hahaha.”

“So, will you go out with her?”

“Kazawaguchi-senpai, did Shirona not tell you anything?”

“Just the gist of it… Yawn… I’m so sleepy…”

 

Then, she probably knew that Shirona called me out.

 

“I have to go now, Senpai. You know what’s going on between us, right?”

“Yawn… More or less…”

“If that’s the case, then, see you later.”

 

I turned around and was about to take a step forward.

 

“Hey~ Do you like Arina-chan?~”
“Ugh! What the hell are you saying out of the sudden?!”

 

I had no choice but to react to that.

 

“So you like her.”

“How did you come to that conclusion?”

“Guess it~ Yawn… Bye bye…”

 

Kazawaguchi-senpai waved the bead in her hand and walked away.

 

“…I ran into an Arina-level natural disaster, it seems…”

 

*   *   *

 

I ran up the stairs and continued down the familiar hallway. Because of my sudden encounter with the mysterious Kazawaguchi-senpai, I felt bothered by my future relationships.

 

Then I arrived at the old staff room.

 

I’m back at this familiar place again.

 

I gently opened the door.

 

Arina had removed a lot of the flowers and tidied up the desks and chairs, the remnants of our presence here back when we decided to seal this place away.

 

At the place where Arina normally sat, Shirona was there, sitting while looking all stiff. When I entered her vision, she awkwardly stood up.

 

“…You came, Sui…”
“I promised after all.”

 

Then our conversation stopped. 

 

“…”

“…”

 

I took a chair and sat directly in front of her. Shirona turned her head slightly, her face was red but she had a determined expression on her face.

 

“…Sui, I love you…”