CH 16

Friday, when I felt like I was getting closer to Kohinata and Saejima.

Then, after a Saturday and Sunday when I worked hard at a part-time job at a coffee shop, Monday came again.

Friday, when I had many things on my mind, ended with the happening of being asked for my contact information by Shizuka san, Kohinata’s sister, on my way home.

However, although she asked me for my contact information, I did not contact her nor did she chat with me, so nothing has changed except that one more name has been added to my address book.

I think the intention was probably to have a contact address in case of emergency.

I have mixed feelings about the fact that I got Shizuka san’s contact information before my classmate Kohinata’s. I wonder if Kohinata really knows about this? I’m somewhat reluctant to ask.

“Hee,……, Tomoki would like to get that girl’s contact information,”

Before morning HR. When I finished explaining to Keiichi what happened on Friday, he started to speculate about it. I think he was calm enough not to mention Kohinata’s name, taking into account the fact that we were in a classroom.

“Why is that so?”

“Because you’re not satisfied with just her sister, are you? If you are so close that she even let you in, I think it’s normal for her to have your contact information.”

I’ve kept the details of the Kohinata family and my embarrassing comments from Keiichi in the dark, by the way.

It’s not something I’m allowed to talk about without permission, and it’s obvious that she’ll make fun of me for saying it.

“It wasn’t Kohinata’s intention to let me into the house. Well, you know. I’m not complaining, I just think it’s weird.”

It’s true that I want to be close to Kohinata.

But after a night of deliberation, I’ve concluded that it’s probably something akin to a protective desire.

Of course Kohinata is cute, she is soothing to look at, and I feel comfortable talking to her.

But this is not a romantic feeling, and it must be similar to the feelings I have for my own daughter or sister. Of course, without a daughter or a sister, I don’t know much about romantic feelings, so this is just speculation.

“Hmmm. Well, I guess that’s okay for now—well, you know, speak of the devil,”

Keiichi said, pointing with his chin toward the front of the classroom. I looked in that direction and saw Kohinata entering the room with her usual taciturn expression and being greeted by her classmates with a “good morning.”

You’re so cute today. — and so on.

Didn’t you fall down or something?　–Or…

Did you do your homework?　–and so on.

I hear a lot of voices that seem to be trying to pamper Kohinata as much as possible.

I understand how my classmates feel – after all, Kohinata is adorable.

But on the other hand, how many of my classmates, including myself and Keiichi, really understand Kohinata?

How many of her classmates, including me and Keiichi, really understand that she is really a spoiled brat, and that she is trying to be strong after losing her father?

Considering that even her sister Shizuka san was uncertain, the only person who might have a chance would be Saejima at best.

I wonder how hard she works with her tiny body.

I muttered to myself as I watched Kohinata nodding to the men and women around her.

If it were possible, I would like to be the kind of person who makes Kohinata want to be pampered, not the kind of person who just spoils her.

☆ ☆　☆　☆　☆

“So, Tomoki, let’s go to the courtyard!”

“You’re really hurried …… Well, I don’t really care where we eat.”

At lunchtime, when I was about to take my homemade rice balls out of my bag, Keiichi suddenly said something like that. It seems that this guy is a sweet bun as usual.

The courtyard is a popular spot during lunch break and is usually crowded except in the middle of winter or summer.

However, the number of first-year students who are newcomers to the school is still small at this time of the year. In my generation, I remember that they started entering the courtyard around the end of the Golden Week holidays. Until then, the courtyard should be rather empty.

As I was walking beside Keiichi, who was advancing without hesitation, I noticed a familiar face ahead of me.

“Ah, it’s Saejima.”

Saejima was trying to spread out a leisure sheet in the shade of a tree where Kohinata used to watch a procession of ants.

Speaking of which, girls having lunch in the courtyard usually bring their own leisure sheets, right?

Since it is a grassy area, the guys basically sit on the ground. And they usually use their school bags as tables.

“Thanks for waiting~, oh, the seat is so big.”

Keiichi approaches Saejima and calls out to her. Hey, what do you mean by “Sorry to keep you waiting”

“Hey, Sugino-kun and Karakusa-kun, Yaahoo! If it was for two people, we would have kept it at school, but I think it’s too small for four people, so Asuka and I bought it on our day off!”

“Eh? What? You went out of your way to buy it? Should we pay for it too?”

“It’s fine, it’s fine~ – it was just falling apart and I was going to buy a new one. Besides, if you fold it in half, you can still use it for two people!”

Saejima talks to Keiichi, smiling, “Ehehe”

Is it that thing again, the one where they were planning to make me the only one left out?

The reason why I had kept Kohinata’s and Saejima’s names out of the classroom was gone. If we had eaten dinner together in the courtyard, anyone could have seen the scene.

It’s not that I really wanted to keep it a secret, but now that it’s come to this, I guess I should be prepared to accept a little bit of sarcasm.

“…………… You know. We’ve been playing games together at home, so I’m not going to turn you down just because we’re having lunch together during lunch break. So don’t make it happen so unexpectedly.”

“No, this is just a surprise of Tomoki’s. Ouch, ouch, ouch! Gripping my temples hurts!”

As I was instructing Keiichi in the name of corporal punishment, I received a tug on the hem of my uniform from behind. Even without turning around, I immediately knew who was doing it.

“Yo, Kohinata.”

I gave a light greeting to Kohinata, who looked up at me with an upward glance.

Shizuka-san had told me that Kohinata’s expression was coming back.

She glances at me and looks a little shy, which I wonder if that means it is a good thing.