CH 4

“Uh…Ah…”

Just like usual, I spent 6 hours sleeping and woke up at the chime of the bell.

While looking at my classmates who stood up and were bowing, while leaving with excitement, my mind was a bit hazy for a while.

Even Kyoya didn’t come over here today.

After hanging around the students in the class, he joins up with Hinata and then leaves the classroom, to go to the clubs.

In the hallway, I see Tachibana with her friend with glasses who I suppose was her friend.

This time, I diverted my eyes before they reached Tachibana.

If I do eye contact, she might give a reaction.

It’s not that I dislike it, rather, I don’t know how to respond back and might get attention to myself.

It’s better to have fewer worries.

At this moment, it would be a good idea to act like I haven’t noticed

But, I noticed something else…

“…Huh?”

A girl appeared at the window I was looking through.

I made perfect eye contact without thinking.

She was Tachibana’s friend, who wore glasses and had a ponytail.

Not as pretty as Tachibana, but beautiful.

However, when I compared her to Tachibana and Hinata, I felt a different aura.

She stared at me for a few seconds, then, she suddenly relaxed her mouth and smiled at me.

What on earth…

Nothing particular happened after that, all the hustle and bustle that was in the classroom & hallway calmed down

After most of the people have gone, I get up and leave at a leisurely pace.

Well…let’s just go home.

I am curious about the girl, but it’s best if nothing happens.

◆ ◆ ◆

“I’ve been waiting for you, Kusuba-san”

“…I wonder if something happened”

Speaking out loud deliberately so the other person could hear.

I always use the south gate of the school.

The girl was waiting at the place where I first saw Tachibana, standing in front of the gate.

It seems like she knew I use this gate beforehand.

“Why were you waiting for me? You saw me in the classroom.”

“I have to talk to you. To be more precise, I have questions for you.”

It was quite a pleasant voice.

Dignified way of standing, but not high pressure. I felt some room and confidence.

If you look closely at her, you can see a well proportional face, which gives an impression of an orthodox beauty.

“I don’t want to be questioned”

“Yes, that’s really a pity”

“…”

“Well then, question 1”

“Hey!”

When I interrupted her, she giggled.

She really is crazy…

Seriously, she’s way harder to handle than Tachibana.

“I am not answering.”

“Oh, that’s fine. I just want to ask you something, I don’t want an answer”

“Eh…What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Alright, Alright”

“If that’s so, let me ask you a question first”

I had a feeling that I wouldn’t be able to escape from her, so, I said that instead.

I didn’t even know her name yet.

Being the only one questioned. I didn’t like that.

“Alright then, go ahead.”

“…your name is?”

“Susami Chitose. Second year, group 5. Friends with Rika and Hinata. I know about you as I did a bit of research.

“I didn’t ask that much…”

“It was about to be asked so I answered it, is there anything else you would like to know?”

Apparently, it looks like Susami doesn’t care about her information. 

It’s a trick that can’t be imitated by a mob-like me, as expected of a normie.

“Why are you so interested in me?”

“You seem to be getting along with my friends lately.”

“…We don’t get along that well.”

“OH! Which one?”

“Ah…”

DAMN…I was set up.

I was stupid to reply like that.

Susami giggles again.

But she seems rather happy than amused.

“Well…my question is, do you like Rika Tachibana?”

To be honest, I disliked that word.

I like to go at my own pace, not on the same one as a normie.

“…I don’t like her”

“Oh? So, you did answer.

“…You”

Susami kept the bright smile on her face.

She should really wear something on her teeth.

“What do you think of her as her friend?”

“I don’t think of her as a friend.”

“Is that so? Rika said that she thought of you as a friend.”

“She seems to think so for some reason”

I had eaten Tachibana’s food the day before yesterday.

At that time, Tachibana said that she thought of me as a friend.

I really don’t understand her intentions or her true feelings.

“Firstly, what are friends? When do they become friends? If you think one is a friend, is she a friend?”

“Come on, I don’t care. Do you?”

“That’s not…”

“Then, you don’t think of Rika as a friend, do you?”

“Uhh…I…”

“That’s right”

Susami suddenly got silent.

I just want to go home as soon as possible, but I can’t as she is right in front of me.

Susami was staring at my face with her hand on her chin.

“Do you know why I said that you don’t have to answer?”

“…No”

“I was sure you would be more honest with your face than your words. I was right”

“…What do you want to say”

“Nothing really, just one thing though.”

Suddenly, her expression softened.

The uncomfortable feeling that I had was gone, instead, I felt a warm and kind gaze.

A strange face that didn’t suit a girl of the same age.

“Rika might be like that, but she’s a good girl. So, please get along with her, I don’t care how you do it.”

“…Even if you say that, I won’t be getting involved with her anymore.”

“That’s fine”

Susami just gave a small nod.

She’s a bit strange.

But she isn’t a bad person.

Somehow, I get a similar feeling to that of Kyoya.

“Chitose”

Suddenly I heard a familiar voice coming from behind Susami.

She’s a bit short, but the overwhelming presence and good looks are undeniable.

It was Tachibana.

“Oh, how did you find out?”

“If you think for a bit, it’s obvious you’d be here.”

“Fufu, sharp as expected.”

“Hey, stop laughing. You’re troubling Kusuba-san.” 

“Excuse me, Kusuba-kun. Am I troubling you?”

Susami’s gaze asks for consent.

But I decided to remain silent, at least with the intention of revenge. 

“Chitose, let’s go.”

“Alright”

“I’m really sorry, Kusuba-san”

“Next time, control her properly.”

“Yes.”

Tachibana bowed his head and walked out of the gate while pulling Susami’s hand, who held no remorse at all.

After they were far enough that I couldn’t see them, I took a deep breath.

“…Is this how normies talk?”

Let’s just go to the public bath when I reach home.

Whenever something like this happens to you, that’s the best place to relax.

Let’s just eat the dish Tachibana had prepared.

If this gets finished, this time, our relationship will definitely end.

“Oh no…”

As soon as I got home from the public bath, I opened the refrigerator and found out something outrageous.

“…No…”

The bacon and vegetable curry stir fry and Nagimayo Chicken that Tachibana had made, had completed vanished,”

Who did it? Who ate it?

Of course…It’s me…

“Did I eat too much of it yesterday?”

Sadly, it’s finished.

It was so delicious…Well…now what’s the matter?

The cup noodles had also run out.

It’s troublesome to go out right now because it started to rain heavily just before I reached home.

The day gets worse and worse. First, meet with a weird beauty, then the rain right after a bath, and now I’m out of food.

“Hmm…”

I only have seasoned seaweed and packed rice.

…Can I eat that?

Let’s just eat what’s there.

It’s unhealthy, but there are times you have to do these things if you live alone.

If you decide to do so.

As soon as I closed the refrigerator, there was a flash and a tremendous roar that seems to shake the earth.

Lighting.

Really big too.

Seems like it fell somewhere.

Looking out the window, the rain was getting faster and faster.

Even the thunder is getting louder.

Even if it’s not that loud, there isn’t any sign of the rain stopping.

So, I took out the food for today.

I looked again, but there was no other thing to eat.

Looks like it’s time for a man to start cooking.

But, suddenly, the doorbell rang.

Who is it in such weather?

I was hesitant to go and thought to ignore it, but for some reason, I had a feeling I should open it.

“Good evening”

“…yes?”

Rika Tachibana was standing wearing her pajamas I had seen the other day.

The hem of her pajamas and lower legs were slightly wet.

“Ahh…I…”

Tachibana’s easy-to-understand speech became stagnant.

Being a straightforward person, it’s usual for Tachibana to act that way.

She was fidgeting as she thought, and her cheeks were slightly red.

“That’s right, I forgot my apron when I was cooking here!”

“Apron? I don’t have it.”

“Uhh…I’m still doubtful, I’ll confirm.”

Tachibana hurriedly said so and tried to slip by my side.

Even if she said that her apron isn’t here.

“No, it’s not there. I remember you taking it home. Did you check properly?”

“…Anyway-“

BOOM!

“Hyaaa!”

Tachibana suddenly screamed and clung to me.

Her petite body fit perfectly in my chest.

“Eh! Hey!”

I tried to tear away from her, but the trembling body grabbed me hard and wouldn’t let go.

My head comes to a conclusion for the situation.

In other words, the reason Tachibana came here is because she is afraid of lightning.

“…Maybe, you may have forgotten the apron”

“Eh?”

“Yeah, maybe I can’t remember properly. It still might be there, so you can look for it.

As I said that, Tachibana took a small peek with her face still buried in my chest.

Her complexion looks like that of a discarded cat.

I decided not to ask if she was afraid of lighting.

There are some things that a person wants to keep to themselves.

“…yes”

“Alright then.”

Tachibana then calmed down and released me as she was now relieved.

However, she grabbed my hem and slipped into my house.

Today is really strange.

…and would you please stop holding my hem?

“Huh?! My food is gone?”

Tachibana exclaimed in amazement while looking at the empty boxes.

“Yes, It seems like I ate everything yesterday.

“I made it for 4 days, did you share it with someone?”

“No, I ate all of it. Do you suppose I have someone to share it with?”

“Yes…that’s right”

“Hey!”

It would have been nice if you tried to deny it a bit.

“…You have a huge appetite, that was unexpected.”

“No, it’s just that it was too good.”

“…Is that so?”

Tachibana’s lips curled up to a small smile.

She seems to get happy when praised.

Compared to the first impression, she seems more “human”.

But it really was delicious.

I should have saved some.

I went to the kitchen and sat down at the table.

Seasoned seaweed, Mayonnaise, and rice were arranged on the table.

“Uhh…What’s that?”

“It’s today’s dinner.”

“…Impossible”

“Yes, I know. But I can’t help it, I don’t have anything else to eat.”

“Still…wait for a minute”

Tachibana stood up and went to the house entrance.

“Where are you going?”

“I have a curry at home. Though it’s instant, it’s much better than what you’re eating.

“Oh, thank you.”

“I’ll be right back”

“Hey! Can you go alone?”

“…What do you mean?”

Ah…yes…The thunder wasn’t scary at all.

“No, nothing”

“Is that so?”

Tachibana opened the door and looked up at the sky.

The rain had become lighter than before.

But it was still heavy enough.

“…Chance”

Tachibana closed the door behind her as she said that in a barely discernible voice.

The sound of her footsteps got lighter.

“Is she okay…?”

However, there’s nothing I can do.

So I decide to wait while slowly eating my seasoned seaweed.

Well, the seasoned seaweed is delicious itself.

At that moment, there was a big roar.

The thunder came again and was pretty big.

Oh no…

This is bad…

I quickly reach for the door and open it, looking outside.

As I look more carefully, I see a hand near the final step of the stairway.

That’s…no…

“Tachibana!”

“ku-ku-kusuba?”

It was Tachibana.

She became petrified and couched on a spot amongst the stairway.

There was a box of curry tightly held in her hand.

“Uhh…What should I do?”

Tachibana was frightened stiff.

It wouldn’t be strange if the next thunder came any moment now.

If you’re that scared, you don’t have to overdo it.

Why would she do so much for my meal?

“You’ll probably take this as a favor again”

“Eh…?”

“It’s better than staying out here in the rain. I’ll carry you back to my room.”

I went down to a few steps below where Tachibana was and turned my back to Tachibana.

Again, I’m involved with her.

But I’m used to that now.

Just one more time wouldn’t hurt.

“There, get on.”

“I…I can’t move”

“Seriously?”

“If you just reach out, I might be able to…”

“Alright”

Oh…no…

If I do that, it’ll be a disaster.

But it’s too late for that.

I forcibly put my hand under her knee, as she was in a crouching position.

At the same time, I put my other hand under her back and lifted her as much as I could.

“Come one…”

“Gah…Ku-kusuba?”

It became the famous princess-carry.

Looking at Tachibana, her weight is quite light, but it was still hard for an indoor type student like me.

“Put your hands around my neck”

“I…Yes”

Tachibana’s hand wrapped around my neck.

The stress reduced a little, and I started to carry her up the stairs.

The rest is the straight path, that should be easy.

“Umm…Kusuba-san”

“Yeah?”

“…Sorry…”

“…Please make another dish.

“…Yes”

When I got back to the room, I somehow took off my shoes and placed Tachibana on the chair in the living room.

I took a few deep breaths to calm my heavy breathing.

A man who hugs a girl without hesitation is amazing.

I received Tachibana’s shoes and put them in the front of the door, and then returned to the living room.

Tachibana wiped the wet area with a towel with an apologetic look.

“…I’m embarrassed, but I’m afraid of lighting.”

“Well, you can’t help but be scared. Being afraid of cockroaches makes it troublesome to live alone too.”

“…Again, I’ve caused Kusuba-san trouble”

“It’s fine, you can just make the curry”

“…Thank you”

Afterward, I ate the curry Tachibana had made, while she sat upright in front of me.

During all that, the heat from Tachibana’s body hadn’t escaped my hand.

My heart was beating fast, as I remembered Tachibana’s petite body in my arms.

I can’t get rid of the feeling.

Please get along with her

Susami’s voice rang in my head.

I don’t care how you do it

It’s different.

This is not my way.

“…Kusuba-san”

“Yes?”

“…Do you hate it that much to make friends with me?”

“…No, that’s not the case”

Ah, damn…

Apparently, Susami said more than she should.

“…I had said that you don’t have to clarify our relationship”

“…”

“But I want to be friends with you properly.”

Tachibana raised her face and looked me in the eyes.

It was a serious face, she was not fooling me or joking.

“Am I annoying you?”

Annoying?

I was just scared.

If I become friends and get along with you, I will be hated by the surroundings.

I know that, so I Kept running away at the start.

To become friends, to get along with people, to socialize is not something a person like me could do.

I just gave up because I couldn’t do it.

But I don’t have to say yes.

I won’t be hated, but…

No…

Even if I am hated by everyone…

“I’ll be your friend.”

“…Really?”

“Yes, I will.”

You want to befriend me.

There is absolutely no way I am not happy right now.

And it doesn’t matter if the other person is a beautiful girl or not.

I’m just happy to be accepted as I am.

“Well…even if we are friends now, it doesn’t really change anything.” 

“…That’s right”

“Is that so?”

“I don’t think so.”

“You’re the one who asked me to be your friend.”

“Maybe we don’t need to be friends at all?”

“Hey, come on”

Tachibana and I burst out laughing.

So, it wasn’t a bad choice after all.

Looks like I made a friend.