Volume 1 - CH 23

Volume 1, Chapter 23: Friend?

When I entered the classroom, Ayano came up to me.

"Manato, go home with me today."

"Why do I have to go home with you?"

I said that and was about to take my seat when a different voice called out to me and Ayano.

"Hey, do you have to talk like that when Sayaka is the one inviting you out?"

When I looked over the direction of that voice, I saw a rather small girl. She was...um, who was she? I had no idea.

"I won't go home with her even if you told me to."

"Why? Just go with her. Why don't you want to do that?"

Next to that small girl, Ayano’s eyes were moistening. What was up with that. That look that seemed to incite sympathy. It was irritating.

"Like I said, I don't want to go home with this person."

When I said so clearly, Ayano began to cry. This train of thought that crying would make things better further annoyed me.

"Hey, Tamaki! What did you make her cry for?!"

That voice let out by that small girl was loud, and the students in the classroom gathered on us. And so, what happened next? Even though they didn't see anything, they looked at me as if I was the bad guy.

"Sob...sob...I-I just wanted to go home with Manato..."

I wanted to scream out loud that it was enough already.

"Tamaki!"

"Wow, is that guy for real?"

"Ridiculous. It’s just going home together. It's crazy to make her cry over something like that."

"How scummy to make her cry in the classroom."

"I didn't really have a good feeling about him before."

Enough, I was tired. I didn't want to be in the same space as these people who could only sympathize with those around me, so I left the classroom and headed for the rooftop.

"You’re running away."

"Uncool."

"You don't have to come back anymore."

Those words were thrown at me as I was leaving, but I didn't think much of it anymore.

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Fuu, the air was so clean on the rooftop and easy to breathe.

As I thought about this, I was sitting on the rooftop with my legs stretched out.

Then unexpectedly, the door I used to get to the roof opened.

What? Did someone come to ridicule me again? What a bother. I thought that, but then a short boy with an obviously withdrawn appearance showed up there.

He looked at me, fidgeting.

"...What? Is there something you want?"

When I asked that, the timid-looking guy opened his mouth.

"Ah, um, t-that..."

I guess he really was timid. I could see that.

"...Calm down and talk."

I felt like I was somehow being tolerant of this guy. Was it because he looked so frail?

"T-thanks...um, y-you don't have to worry about that!"

"...Huh?"

"L-like I said! Don't worry about those people who were badmouthing you in the classroom!"

"...Don't worry, I don't care. About that kind of thing."

I said that. Because I really didn't care.

"...You're lying."

"Eh?"

"Because, because you look so pained, don't you?"

It wasn't until I was told that I realized. I realized that my face was contorted.

"That..."

I was going to deny it. I was going to say that that wasn't the case. But for some reason, the words wouldn't come out.

"It's okay...I know. Tamaki-kun didn't make her cry."

Those words were the trigger. Tears naturally spilled out of my eyes.

"Huh? Eh? Why are you crying..."

That short boy in front of me hugged me. His body was supposed to be small, but for some reason, it seemed very big. And warm.

"Tamaki-kun. It's okay. You don't have to hold back. It's okay to cry if you're in pain."

Why was he speaking so kindly to me.

"If you have nothing but enemies, I'll be your only ally."

I gave up. I should have given up. But why couldn't I stop my tears from flowing?

"...Thanks."

Those words spontaneously came out of my mouth. Words that were said unconsciously. But I felt my heart lighten when I said that.

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"My name is Hatamaki Tatsuki."

"I'm..."

"Tamaki Manato-kun, right?"

"...Yeah, but how did you know?"

"I know your name because you were involved with Ayano-san earlier."

Oh, so was that why he called me by my name? He heard it from back then, he said.

"Or rather, you really trusted me."

"Yeah, I'm not confident in dealing with people, but I'm confident in my ability to see people."

"...You really were confident in me."

How could he be even sure of that. This wasn't to belittle Hatamaki. I honestly thought he was amazing.

"...I-I would that I believed, but that..."

Well, that should be about right. No one was going to help out a guy like me out of the goodness of their heart. Or so I thought.

"I wonder if you'd want to be friends with me..."

"Huh?"

"Ah, that, if you don't like it, that's fine, though..."

Really, what's with this guy. Why did he always have to say words that warmed my heart so much.

"I-it's not that I'm reluctant, but..."

"...Is there a reason?"

"...Well, something like that."

"If you want to talk about it, it's fine."

Hatamaki asked me this reservedly. It wasn't something I would normally talk about with someone. But somehow, I felt like I could tell him.

"Well, it's not really that interesting of a story..."

And so, I talked. Maybe I wanted to get some relief by talking to other people.

"...Sob, sob."

"Huh?! H-hey, you didn't have to ask me if you'd hate it that much..."

Hatamaki had tears streaming down his face. Oh, he had a runny nose, too...

"It's not that...it's just that, I didn't think Tamaki-kun went through so much pain, and my tears naturally came out."

How could Hatamaki be so emotional towards other people? Why was he trying to understand my pain. Why was this person so kind?

"It's okay. I would never hurt Tamaki-kun."

"...No, but..."

Then, I noticed Hatamaki's eyes staring at me. Those eyes were all too serious...

"...Got it."

"! Thanks!"

I didn't deserve a thank-you. On the opposite, I would like to apologize for making him listen to such a story.

"Wow...really, I really made a friend...for the first time..."

But when I took a look at Hatamaki, that feeling disappeared.

"T-then, can we want to eat together or something?!"

"O-oh. Sure."

"A-and we can go home together as well?!"

"T-that's good, too."

"Then, then!"

Hatamaki and I completely lost track of time and were scolded by the teacher who came to check in on us.

Hatamaki and I looked at each other and let out a laugh, which made him even angrier.