Volume 4 - CH 5

Now, sometime later.

The first day of school after spring break.

“Good morning, Yuzuru-san.”

“Good morning, Arisa.”

Arisa came to pick up Yuzuru from his apartment.

“Yuzuru-san… you’re looking a little tanned.”

This was the first time that Yuzuru and Arisa had seen each other after coming back from their vacation.

He sent some pictures of himself to Arisa, but it seemed that the pictures and the real thing look a little different.

“Well… I was in a tropical country after all.”

When saying that he’s tanned, there’s only a slight change that can be noticed.

It doesn’t mean that he’s become completely dark.

“That thing you’re holding in your hand, could it be…”

“Ah, it’s a souvenir. I was going to give it out when I get to school. I’ll give it to you later, too.”

Yuzuru then lightly raised the paper bag in his hand.

It was a souvenir from New Caledonia.

In addition, the Takasegawa family sends all of their souvenirs by mail to the people who have been a part of their lives.

The one Yuzuru is carrying is his personal souvenir for Ayaka and the others.

That said…

Yuzuru smiled again at Arisa.

“It’s good to see you. I’ve missed you so much.”

When Yuzuru said this, Arisa’s cheeks flushed slightly and she lightly smacked Yuzuru on the chest.

“Geez, give it a rest please!”

“…was it not like that for you?”

Yuzuru asked the embarrassed Arisa.

Then, Arisa answered with her eyes slightly downcast.

“That’s… W-well…”

Then, she vaguely mumbled her words.

To such Arisa, Yuzuru spread his hands wide.

“Is it okay if I hug you?”

Arisa’s jade-green eyes fluttered a few times.

Her white skin turned rosy.

Then she glanced around to make sure that no one was around and…

“Yuzuru-san…”

She leaped into Yuzuru’s chest.

Yuzuru hugged his fiancée tightly with both hands.

The beautiful flaxen hair slightly tickles the tip of Yuzuru’s nose.

A faint scent of shampoo drifted into the air.

His fiancée’s body was very soft and hot.

“…I was lonely without you.”

“Sorry about that.”

They hadn’t seen each other for a few weeks, and yet they were reunited as if they had been separated for decades.

“Starting today we’re sophomores, right?”

“That’s right.”

They were holding hands as they walked to school, having such an innocent conversation.

“I hope we can be in the same class.”

“That’s right… come to think of it, there will be a class shuffle.”

When Arisa told him, Yuzuru suddenly realized.

In the second year, the classes will be completely changed.

If that happens, there’s a good chance that Yuzuru and Arisa will be in different classes.

“You forgot?”

“No, well… I guess the correct answer is that I wasn’t really conscious of it. I’m getting a little nervous.”

But just because they are in different classes doesn’t mean they will be separated or anything.

In the first place, it is not possible to talk during class time…

It doesn’t matter if it’s the same class or not, as long as they can talk to each other during breaks.

“If the New Year’s prayers work… then I’m sure we’ll be in the same class.”

“…yeah, that’s right. There’s two people’s worth after all.”

I hope we can be together again this year.

The two of them remembered that they had prayed for such a wish at the shrine.

In the meantime, they arrived at the school.

Yuzuru and Arisa picked up the papers distributed near the shoe boxes.

On it were the details of this year’s class placement.

The result was…

“Oh, it’s the same class.”

“It’s the same.”

They were in the same class.

Relieved, Yuzuru and Arisa patted their chest.

“… Ayaka-san, Chiharu-san and Tenka-san are also in the same class.”

“Soichiro and Hijiri are also in the same class…”

They looked for the names of their closest friends and realized. 

They were all in the same class.

“…do you think it’s a coincidence?”

“I wonder?　I think it’s a …coincidence.”

However, no part of it can absolutely be called a coincidence.

The high school that Yuzuru and his friends attend is a private school.

And Takasegawa, Tachibana, Uenishi, and Satake had donated a considerable amount of money.

It’s hard to believe that they would put pressure on something as unimportant as this, but it’s possible that the administrators made some kind of discernment…

(No, naturally not..)

In the first place, the school is not operated only by donations from Takasegawa and Tachibana.

Ordinary students are also important “clients”…

There was no reason to give Yuzuru special treatment.

So it’s probably just a coincidence.

However… Let’s assign close friends to the same class.

It is quite possible that the teachers’ had such intentions.

“Well, It’s fine in any way. Let’s go, Arisa.”

“Yeah.”

The two of them began to walk.

….As expected, it was on school grounds, so he was careful not to hold hands with her.