CH 30

”Hey, you’re boring. What’s with the casual answer.”

”No, no, I think we should go back to our original seats…Otsuka.”

You should go back no matter what. This is not where you belong.

Your place is definitely not here.

”What? Are you serious?”

”Well, relatively.”

And you’re crossing your legs again so brazenly…

I’m gonna see them, hey. 　

”Who-aa!  Picking up girls in Kyoto! “

”Does the bus guide have a boyfriend? Yes-yes! I, I’m going to be a candidate!”

”Karaoke, let’s karaoke! Give me the mic!”

Yeah. That way. Go to the noisiest seat in the back, the festive zone where the selected ones gather. Your best friend’s over there.

”Hmm, I didn’t know you were going to say that. If you’re going to say that, I’d like you to come to the backside. If you go back, I’ll go too.”

”W-what? Back side? I’ve been sitting here since the beginning of high school. I don’t know what you’re talking about…”

K-Karen. 　

She’s really been suspicious since a while ago…

”Huh?　You know better than anyone what I’m talking about.”

”Well, I’m sorry. I really don’t know.”

Damn it… I know.

That’s why it’s so hard.

I mean, really, what’s with your eyes…

You’re looking at me from such a close distance with such a sharp gaze…

No. Time doesn’t move forward at all.

Are we going to stay on the bus for another two hours?

No, I can’t.

The oxygen is beyond suffocating, and I’m about to throw up.

Uh, let’s just take a look at the scenery.

Yeah. It’s the season of beautiful autumn leaves.

You can’t see them from the highway, but as far as I can see, it’s a clear day without a single cloud. For now, I’m just looking at this magnificent blue sky and feeling while expecting to see the spectacular autumn leaves in Kyoto…

But, ugh… Oh, no. Hey!

My eyes are now seeing Karen’s gaudy red underwear reflected in the mirror, not autumn leaves…

”Hey, Kazama. You’ve been acting suspiciously since a while ago.

”No. I’m doing nothing…”

”Huh? What’s that reaction? I think I’ve seen that reaction before.”

Sigh. I don’t know if I can take this anymore, and it’s only the beginning of the day.

How many times has she tried to set me up already? How many times have I lied?

If today’s horoscope said [As long as you don’t lie, you’ll have a happy day today!] If what they said is true…

I’m sure I’ll have an even harsher fate awaiting me today, sigh.

I take a deep breath for now.

I close my eyes and become nothing. Or rather, pretend to be asleep. I mean, really sleep.

Yes, I’ll endure the rest of the trip.

It’s the only way.

Okay, I can’t hear anything. Concentrate. Concentrate on sleeping.

”Hey, Harukaze? What are you doing? Don’t stand there. Isn’t there a bathroom right there?”

Isn’t there a bathroom right there…?

”What’s wrong?　It’s not like you. What, why are you looking so scared?… I mean, where are you looking?　Is there something behind you? Hey, are you okay? Harukaze?”

Well, I hear the teacher’s voice from the front…

The teacher’s voice sounds like she can’t afford to lose her temper…

”Hey, Kazama! Why are you pretending to be asleep? Wake up! Open your eyes. You’re awake, aren’t you? It’s obvious.”

Karen. What’s this guy doing again?

And then, her breath comes very close to me…

But now, if I open my eyes, I will see everything…

”Hey, Harukaze! Why are you gritting your teeth so hard? Stop it! Harukaze! You’ll break a blood vessel. What’s really going on back there, Harukaze? What? So-chan? What’s So-chan? Crush? A cat? What about the cat?”

(泥棒猫, dorobō neko, ‘thieving cats’, homewrecker.)

Uh, yeah, yeah Don’t ever, ever open my eyes now.

There is trouble both next door and in front of me…

I mean, why is Kanna so pissed off?

But I’m pretty sure Kanna was looking at me just now.

And I’m pretty sure that “So-chan” is my nickname…

Hm? Did I do something I didn’t know?

She was in such a good mood when she came this morning.

It’s really unfortunate that Kanna was angry.

My life could be lost in an instant…

Oh, and didn’t you hear me say “crush” earlier?

Crush?

What?

And cat?　What’s a cat?

Well, anyway, this is really, really bad in more ways than one. This…

I actually promised Kanna that we’d sneak out together later…

That’s when I want to escape…

This field trip…

This is seriously bad. 　

What’s going to happen to me…