CH 10

Chapter 10: Behind the Veil

The athletics festival ended without further incident. 

Afterwards, Yukishiro-san and I decided to hold a Thank You party for Hasuike at the karaoke place near the station. 

Everyone gathered on the sports grounds and Yukishiro-san decided that everyone should go together. Our classmates were worried that the hero of today's relay wouldn't come, but I made sure to show my face so they wouldn't worry. 

Seems like Yukishiro-san and I will be doing karaoke together. I think this is the first time I will do anything like this with a girl besides Hanabi. 

"Ichinose-kun, I'll go to the locker room to change my clothes, can you head to the classroom first?" 

"I can wait in the hallway, though if you need to pick up your bag, I can go to the classroom." 

After putting the chairs away, we walked down the path from the sports ground back to the campus and I heard a familiar voice. 

"Of all places, you wanted to talk here?" 

"Sorry Hanabi, today's circumstances are a bit different. I wanted to get everything out of the way first" 

Hanabi and Kirigaya are walking together, though the atmosphere seems tense. It'd be best if I avoid her. Unfortunately, all my classmates are gone so I can't hide with the crowd. It's just Yukishiro-san and I. 

“Yukishiro-san, over here." 

I take her hand and hide behind a tree. 

"Ahh, Ichinose-kun?" 

"Sorry, I didn't want to deal with them." 

"Th-that's fine. It's kind of awkward seeing Kirigaya after all of this." 

Seems like Yukishiro-san thinks Kirigaya is the one I don't want to see, not the girl beside him. Well, it’s not like Yukishiro-san knows my past. 

"Next time, Hanabi-chan, I'll promise I’ll be the best. Next event, I'll-" 

"Like hell there’ll be a next time." 

"Huh?" 

Hanabi stops walking in front of the tree I'm hiding behind. Shit. Will we be able to even hide from them at this point? 

"Why do you think I'll give you another chance? Just how much of a fool are you?" 

"Ha-hanabi-chan?!" 

“Wow, you're acting so over familiar with me, how gross. Okay that's it, you're not fit to be my pretend boyfriend anymore." 

"Pretend?!? But I am your boyfriend!" 

"Ha? When the hell did I ever say that?" 

"W-well, every morning we would go to school together. You even clung onto me!" 

"Ahahaha, what a fucking idiot. Seems like all of your development went straight to your muscles and not your brain. You're such a disgrace, the way you're acting right now. You truly are a waste of space. You definitely will never be good enough to be my boyfriend, only one person in the whole world is worthy enough to be with me." 

"Wh-what do you mean?" 

"Don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong, you piece of shit." 

"I'll fix my weak points! Please reconsider! You're my amazing girlfriend that I can show off to everyone. I even changed my hairstyle for you because you liked it this way!" 

“You think you can curry favour by sucking up to me? So you’re fucking condescending, the sight of you just makes me want to throw up.”

"W-wait..." 

"You really aren't fit to have a girlfriend at all, you're just a sack of shit after all. Bye." 

"Aaa..." 

Hanabi leaves Kirigaya, walking the path by herself.  He falls down onto the bare ground and sits there for a while, but after what seemed like an eternity, hesitantly stands up. His face looks devoid of any meaning and purpose. 

"Seems like they have a lot of love problems..." 

Trying to find the words to speak, Yukishrio-san finally says something. Love problems sure is a weird way of putting it. Thinking about it, I crack a smile. 

"For sure, the love lives of high school students can be messy." 

"Compared to them, I'd like to think I'm quite normal" 

"Let's hope it remains that way for you." 

"I wonder... I think living a healthy and happy life is the key to having a healthy relationship." 

"Being happy is definitely the key to having a healthy relationship. Quite important, if I do say so myself." 

"It sure is." 

We both laugh in unison as we continue our cheery conversation in order to drive away the gloomy atmosphere left by Kirigaya and Hanabi. ______